SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Death in Custody

Laura Moffatt: To ask the Solicitor-General when the Attorney-General will announce the outcome of the review of the role and practices of the Crown Prosecution Service in cases arising from a death in custody.

Harriet Harman: The Attorney-General hopes to make an announcement around the end of September. He had hoped to do so before Parliament rose this month, but because of the thought provoking contributions that have been made, and because he wishes to examine aspects of the handling of a trial which ended in acquittal earlier this month, he has decided to extend the period of the review. He is grateful to all those who have so far responded to the consultation paper or contributed their views in other ways.

DEFENCE

Aircraft

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list, by aircraft type, the RAF's (a) requirement, (b) actual operating fleet and (c) the total number of aircraft of each type owned and leased by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 25 June 2002
	The information requested is set out in the table. The figures provided in the table are a snapshot of the situation as at 3 May 2002.
	The Required Operating Fleet is the total number of aircraft needed to undertake the defined military task, the Actual Operating Fleet is the total number of aircraft available to undertake the defined military task and the Departmental Fleet is the total number of aircraft.
	
		MOD owned aircraft
		
			 Aircraft type Required operating fleet (ROF) Actual operating fleet Departmental fleet 
		
		
			 BAe 125 ccMk3 5 6 6 
			 BAe 146 ccMk2 2 2 3 
			 C-17 4 4 4 
			 Canberra PR9 4 3 5 
			 Canberra T4 1 2 4 
			 Dominie 8 10 17 
			 Harrier GR7 51 54 74 
			 Harrier T10 9 8 12 
			 Sea Harrier FA2 26 28 49 
			 Harrier T8 4 4 7 
			 Hawk 98 99 132 
			 Hercules C-120J 25 23 25 
			 Hercules C-130K 25 25 34 
			 Islander 1 2 8 
			 Jaguar GR1a/3/3a 39 43 93 
			
			 Jaguar T2a/T4 7 — 19 
			 Jetstream TMk 9 11 11 
			 Nimrod MR2 20 20 21 
			 Nimrod R1 3 2 3 
			 Sentry E-3D AEW Mk1 6 6 7 
			 Tornado F3 93 90 135 
			 Tornado GR 112 112 168 
			 Tristar 8 8 9 
			 Tucano Mk1 71 71 126 
			 VC10 19 19 22 
			 Rotary wing aircraft
			 Sea King Mk3/3a 23 25 25 
			 Wessex 4 4 4 
			 Contractor owned aircraft
			 Firefly 43 43 45 
			 Griffin 9 9 9 
			 Squirrel 41 41 41 
			 Tutor 99 99 99 
		
	
	The RAF also operates the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, which comprises 10 fixed wing aircraft. The breakdown of this figure by aircraft type and number is detailed in the table.
	
		
			 Aircraft type
		
		
			 Chipmunk 1 2 2 
			 Dakota 1 1 1 
			 Hurricane 2 2 2 
			 Lancaster B1 1 1 1 
			 Spitfire 5 5 5

Suez Medal

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Honours and Decorations Committee re-opened the case to consider awarding a 1951–54 Suez Canal Campaign Medal; who requested that the matter be reviewed; and when he expects a decision to be made.

Lewis Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave on 17 June 2002, Official Report, column 43W to my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Waveney (Mr. Blizzard).
	The Government considers it important to respect the principle that where there is a clear, demonstrable decision taken within five years of a campaign that a General Service Medal should not be awarded, that decision should not be reopened.
	The evidence relating to consideration of a General Service Medal for the Suez Canal Zone is however less clear-cut. A number of representations.
	In view of these exceptional circumstances, the Government is setting up a small sub-committee of HD Committee under the chairmanship of General Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank to report on the case for an exceptional award of a General Service Medal for the Suez Canal Zone without creating wider precedent or breaching longstanding principles which underpin the making of such awards.

International Criminal Court

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the UK Government's policy towards the surrender of UK nationals where accused of a crime in connection with a UN peacekeeping or enforcement operation committed after 1 July upon request of the International Criminal Court.

Geoff Hoon: Under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), investigation and, if necessary, prosecution of any allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide by United Kingdom nationals would be carried out by the UK. The purpose of the ICC is to bring to justice those who commit these crimes and to act as a deterrent against their being committed. The UK strongly supports the ICC and these aims. The ICC will intervene only when it determines that a state is unwilling or unable to pursue a particular case, but it is inconceivable that this would ever apply to the UK. We do not, therefore, envisage that the UK would ever be required to surrender its nationals to the ICC.

RAF Chilmark

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the closure of RAF Chilmark was announced; what was the (a) planned date and (b) actual date of closure; what was the (i) estimated and (ii) actual date of disposal; what was the (A) estimated and (B) actual sale value of the site ; what was the (1) estimated and (2) actual cost of remediation; who calculated the estimated sale value of the site and on what basis; what the (x) estimated and (y) actual annual running costs of the site were between closure and disposal; and what the annual costs have been of decontamination work since the announcement of closure.

Lewis Moonie: The closure of RAF Chilmark was formally announced in September 1992, with a planned closure date of April 1995. The site closed on 1 April 1995.
	RAF Chilmark originally comprised separate sites at Dinton and Chilmark. Sales of the various parts were planned to follow clearance of explosive ordnance devices and any necessary decontamination, although it was accepted that final clearance of the entire site could take a considerable time.
	The first major sale was completed in July 1995, with seven further sales since. Chilmark HQ site and land at Ladydown are the only parts remaining unsold.
	No formal estimate was made of overall sale receipts, since at the time of closure, no firm estimation could be made as to the eventual timetable for sale.
	Receipts from those parts sold since closure total approximately £1.5 million.
	No formal figure was prepared prior to the results of the Land Quality Assessments and prior to the introduction of more refined investigatory equipment.
	The cost over the first five years since closure of clearing explosive ordnance has been in the region of £1.7 million. A further £371,000 has been spent on preparation of Land Quality Assessments and remediation. Later figures have not yet been compiled.
	The values of those parts already sold have been assessed either by consultants to the Ministry of Defence or by the District Valuer. All sales have been at not less than open market value.
	The total of the actual holding costs of the site from closure in 1995 to 31 March 2002, excluding remediation works but including the cost of security guarding, is in the region of £1.9 million (excluding VAT). Estimated costs are prepared on an annual basis, and have proved to be very close to the actual costs.
	The future cost of any necessary decontamination of the remaining parts at Chilmark HQ site and Ladydown cannot be assessed until clearance of explosive ordnance is complete.

Nuclear Arsenal

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of maintaining Britain's nuclear arsenal in each of the last five years; and what the projected annual cost of maintaining the nuclear arsenal is in each of the next five years.

Geoff Hoon: The cost of maintaining Britain's nuclear weapons has been about 1 per cent. of the total annual defence budget and is expected to remain at around that level for each of the next five years.

Consultation

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the public consultations undertaken by his Department since 1997, indicating for each consultation (a) if copies were available online, (b) if copies were available in print, (c) the date the time period given for responses opened and (d) the date the time period given for responses closed.

Lewis Moonie: The Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultation applies to all formal national public consultation documents issued by departments from 1 January 2001 and the information requested is not available before that date. Since that date, all formal consultation documents have been published on-line and either immediately made available in print or made available in print on request. Details are as follows:
	
		
			 Public consultations  Issued Responses required by  
		
		
			 The Future of the Defence Diversification Agency Mid February 2001 23 March 2001 
			 The Military Maritime Graves and the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 14 February 2001 14 May 2001 
			 Proposed introduction of the Voluntary Screening Programme following Health concerns in respect of Depleted Uranium 13 February 2001 9 March 2001 
			 Armed Forces Pension Scheme Review 1 March 2001 31 July 2001 
			 Joint Compensation review 1 March 2001 31 July 2001 
			 Second Consultative Document on the introduction of a Voluntary Screening Programme for Depleted Uranium 11 April 2001 4 July 2001 
			 Ministry of Defence Police Quinquennial Review 26 April 2001 Within six months

Consultation

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has a designated consultation co-ordinator in accordance with the Cabinet Office code of practice on written consultations.

Lewis Moonie: Yes.

Consultation

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many consultation documents published in 2001 in (a) electronic or (b) printed form his Department has monitored and evaluated in accordance with the Cabinet Office code of practice on written consultations.

Lewis Moonie: For two of the consultations it is too early in the process for meaningful evaluation. The remainder have not yet been monitored and evaluated in accordance with the Cabinet Office Code of Practice.

Galileo Satellite Navigation System

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from (a) other European countries and (b) the United States regarding the possible military implications of the Galileo satellite navigation system.

Lewis Moonie: Secretary for Defence Rumsfield discussed Galileo with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence at the NATO Defence Ministers' meeting of 6–7 June 2002. Deputy Secretary for Defence Wolfowitz had previously written to my right hon. Friend about United States concerns over Galileo in December 2001. No representations to the Secretary of State about possible military implications of Galileo have been received from European countries.

Armed Forces (Recruitment)

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the recruitment figures to the armed forces from the Glasgow, Pollok constituency and the city of Glasgow were in the latest year for which figures are available; if he will list the services and units to which people have been recruited; how many individuals were recruited as (a) officers and (b) other ranks in each service; and what the figures were in each of the last five years.

Adam Ingram: I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Chinook ZD576

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Chinook ZD576.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 19 July 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the statement which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence made to the House on 22 July 2002, Official Report, columns 689–704.

Emergency Repairs

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of emergency repairs have been done within 24 hours of notification; what percentage of urgent repairs have been completed within five working days of notification; what percentage of routine repairs have been completed within two months of notification in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The Defence Housing Executive became an Agency of the Ministry of Defence in 1999. Prior to this date the information requested was not collected in a comparable way. The information requested is as follows:
	
		Per cent. 
		
			  Target Outturn 
		
		
			  To complete emergency repairs within 24 hours of notification: 
			 1999–2000 95 95 
			 2000–01 95 94 
			 2001–02 95 93 
			
			  To complete urgent repairs within five days of notifications: 
			 1999–2000 90 79 
			 2000–01 90 86 
			 2001–02 90 87 
			
			  To complete routine repairs within two months of notifications: 
			 1999–2000 90 90 
			 2000–01 90 96 
			 2001–02 95 99 
		
	
	The 2001–02 figures are provisional. Routine repairs within the required time scale have consistently achieved or exceeded the targets. The achievement on urgent repairs continues to fall slightly short of the target but still represents a year on year improvement. There has also been a slight shortfall against target emergency repairs for the past two years. The Defence Housing Executive (DHE) is addressing areas of under-performance and will take remedial action to improve their service to service families. The DHE is also developing a more sophisticated system of measuring its performance on repairs which will take into account quality and customer satisfaction.

Defence Housing Executive

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who manages the Defence Housing Executive IT national database of recorded repairs; and if he will make statement.

Lewis Moonie: Data is inputted into the Defence Housing Executive (DHE) database of repairs by DHE staff. The provision of IT services to DHE, including an application that maintains the database of housing repairs, is managed by Steria Ltd. (formerly Bull Information Systems Ltd.) under a contract let on 7 September 2001.

Property Disposal

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what role Annington Homes Ltd. has in deciding which properties are released back to them for disposal; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how much money has been received in each year since 1996 from the profit share on his Department's homes released to Annington Homes Ltd. for disposal; what share of the profit these amounts represent; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: Annington Homes has no influence over which properties are released to them. They can only reject properties if a release is not in accordance with the sale agreement. This states that a release must comprise, as Annington's minimum entitlement, the lesser of 10 per cent. of a site or 20 units. The Ministry of Defence releases to Annington Homes only those families quarters for which there is no longer a service requirement.
	The sale agreement incorporates a profit share agreement which has yielded the following by financial year:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1997–98 2.29 
			 1998–99 3.53 
			 1999–2000 6.80 
			 2000–01 8.03 
			 2001–02 18.79 
		
	
	The Exchequer receives a proportion of any gains in excess of an agreed level according to the sliding scale as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 1997 50 
			 1998 45 
			 1999 40 
			 2000 35 
			 2001 30 
			 2002 25 
			 2003 25 
			 2004 25 
			 2005 25 
			 2006 25 
			 2007 22 
			 2008 19 
			 2009 16 
			 2010 13 
			 2011 10

National Asset Register

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what disposals and acquisitions have been made by his Department since the publication of the National Asset Register on 19 July 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Departmental Funding

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will list his net cash requirement and planned net cash requirement in 2002–03 cash terms for financial years from 1997–98 to 2005–06;
	(2)  if he will list his Department's parliamentary funding and planned parliamentary funding in 2002–03 cash terms from the Consolidated Fund (Supply) for financial years from 1997–98 to 2005–06.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 19 July 2002
	The data requested are given in the table. All figures are at 2002–03 prices and include costs of un-programmed operations/conflict prevention. Figures beyond 2002–03 are not available.
	
		£ million 
		
			  Net cash requirement 
		
		
			 1997–98 23,617 
			 1998–99 24,671 
			 1999–2000 24,175 
			 2000–01 24,782 
			 2001–02 25,512 
			 2002–03 26,092

Budget Holders

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list his Department's top level budget holders and their related management grouping for each financial year since 1997–98.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 19 July 2002
	I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

C130J

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what problems have arisen with the propellers of RAF C130Js when landing on non-concrete runways; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: No RAF C130J aircraft have landed on non-concrete runways. The first rough strip landing trial is scheduled for later this year.

C130J

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have been made on troop seating on RAF C130Js; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: No changes have been made to the configuration of troop seating in the RAF C130J aircraft. A maximum of 128 personnel can be accommodated in the C-Mk 4 and 91 people in the C-Mk 5. At present, however, passenger seating in the cargo compartments of both C130J marks is restricted while an investigation is carried out into the cause of noise and vibration within the compartment and its effect on passengers. This has temporarily reduced the seating capacity by 22 seats on the C-Mk 4 and 23 seats on the C-Mk 5.

Ammunition

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how long after their arrival in, and how long before their departure from Afghanistan, Royal Marines were issued with, and had to return, their ammunition; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: Royal Marine commandos at Bagram were issued with ammunition prior to specific tasks or operations, and returned any unused ammunition upon their completion. Ammunition was also issued to troops at Bagram for force protection tasks, including guarding.

SA80s

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many SA80s and SA80 A2s have been issued to (a) the Royal Navy, (b) the Royal Marines, (c) the RAF, (d) army armoured regiments, (e) airborne regiments, (f) infantry regiments, (g) the TA and (h) other units; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: As the SA80 A2 deployment continues and the unmodified weapon is withdrawn, the information requested changes daily. As at 19 July 2002 the following information was available.
	
		
			 MOD unit SA80 A2 SA80 A1 
		
		
			 (a) The Royal Navy 131 10,179 
			 (b) The Royal Marines 3,713 5,012 
			 (c) The RAF 5,437 27,389 
			 (d) Armoured regiments 514 6,982 
			 (e) Airborne regiments 2,137 (1)— 
			 (f) Infantry regiments 2,415 32,939 
			 (g) The TA(2) 100 — 
			 (h) Other units (including the TA) 9,522 89,264 
			  
			 Total 23,969 171,765 
		
	
	(1) SA80 A1 figures for Airborne troops are included within Infantry regiments figures.
	(2) Reserve Training and Mobilisation Centre (RTMC), Chilwell.
	Approximately 4,000 SA80 A2s are being issued each month and the deployment is expected to be complete by May 2006.

Reserve Forces Doctors

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the opportunity cost was of the compulsory mobilisation of reserve forces doctors on 16 May.

Lewis Moonie: I understand that the opportunity costs requested relate to any national health service (NHS) operations or activities which did not take place because of compulsory mobilisation of reserve forces doctors on 16 May. Such details are not held by the Ministry of Defence.

Defence Spending

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what defence spending was as a percentage of United Kingdom gross domestic product in each year since 1980.

Lewis Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 30 October 2001, Official Report, column 565W to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws). On the basis of provisional outturn for 2001–02, United Kingdom defence spending as a percentage of UK Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in that year is now estimated to be 2.5 per cent.
	All the figures are based on cash outturn and include the unprogrammed cost of operations and other additions to the planned budget provided in Supplementary Estimates. They are not therefore comparable to forecasts of future defence spending as a percentage of UK GDP, based on the defence spending plans published in the White Paper "2002 Spending Review: New Public Spending Plans 2003–06" (Cm 5570).

Defence Spending

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the projected defence spending is, as a percentage of UK GDP, from 2002–03 to 2005–06.

Lewis Moonie: The defence budget is expected to represent the following share of forecast GDP.
	
		
			 Financial year Percentage GDP 
		
		
			 2002–03 2.3 
			 2003–04 2.3 
			 2004–05 2.3 
			 2005–06 2.2 
		
	
	This reflects the defence budget expressed as 'near-cash spending in MOD DEL' in Table 12.1 of the White Paper "2002 Spending Review: New Public Spending Plans 2003–06" (Cm 5570), which is the most appropriate basis of comparison with forecast GDP. Outturn figures are likely to be higher than these plans, when the costs of operations and any other in-year additions are taken into account, and this would increase the share of GDP represented by defence spending in these years.

Defence Spending

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide a breakdown of incremental 2002–03 defence spending announced in the 2002 comprehensive spending review by (a) type of expenditure, (b) country and (c) region of the United Kingdom in which this increase is likely to be spent.

Lewis Moonie: The 2002 spending review covered the period 2003–04 to 2005–06. Additional resources will also be made available during 2002–03 to enable us to manage the pressure arising from the high levels of activity in which we are currently engaged, but these will not be finalised until later in the year and it is therefore not possible to provide the breakdown requested.

Defence Spending

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the increase in defence spending announced in the recent comprehensive spending review will be spent on Trident in each year from 2002–03 to 2005–06.

Lewis Moonie: Decisions on the allocation of the defence budget plans announced in spending review 2002 will be made in the normal way through the Ministry of Defence's annual planning process.

Defence Spending

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide a breakdown of defence spending in each year since 1997–98 by each country and region of the United Kingdom in which it was spent.

Lewis Moonie: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Future Rapid Effects System

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Future Rapid Effects System and the future of (a) the UK's heavy warfighting capability, (b) the development of lighter forces and (c) the role of the medium force in the UK army.

Lewis Moonie: In order to meet the full range of security challenges it might encounter in the future, the Army must be able to draw upon a full spectrum of forces—heavy, medium and light. The Strategic Defence Review, with its emphasis on expeditionary forces, recognised the requirement to develop further the capabilities of all our forces for more rapid intervention.
	The Future Rapid Effects System (FRES) is intended to balance our capacity to meet the requirement for capable medium forces. We shall continue to develop our heavy and light forces as we anticipate a continuing need for the capabilities they provide. None of the capabilities is discrete. We shall continue to organise our forces for specific operations into force packages tailored to the requirements of the missions, using joint capabilities drawn from across the services.

Army Pensions

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to review the current pension system for widows of army personnel who decide to remarry or cohabit.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 23 July 2002
	My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Defence and the Social Security Minister announced on 20 July 2000 that changes would be made to the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) to allow widows and widowers in receipt of an Attributable Forces Family Pension to retain their pension if they remarry or cohabit. These changes took effect from 31 October 2000. Previously, an attributable widow(er)s' pension was withdrawn on remarriage or cohabitation, although it would have been automatically restored on second widowhood or at the end of a period of cohabitation. Those widows or widowers who had already remarried, and have had their attributable pension withdrawn, were not included in the change. Those in receipt of a War Widows' Pension payable under the Naval, Military and Air Force etc. (Disablement and Death) Service Pensions Order 1983, or a non-attributable widows or widowers' AFPS pension, are also not affected by the change; their pensions will still cease on remarriage or cohabitation.
	No further changes to widow(er)s' pensions under the current pension scheme are envisaged, however, the review of the AFPS currently proposes extending the October 2000 change to non-attributable pensions. On current plans, this would only apply to those joining the new scheme.

Anglo-Irish Ministerial Meetings

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when and where Ministers in his Department have held meetings with Ministers and officials of the Irish Government since 1 June 2000; which Ministers were involved in each meeting; which Irish Government Departments were involved in each meeting; and which Ministers and officials from the Irish Government attended each meeting.

Lewis Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 20 June 2002, Official Report, columns 533–34W, by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Europe (Peter Hain).

Memorandums of Understanding (US)

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what memorandums of understanding have been signed with the United States Administration since 1 January 1999; on what dates each was signed; where each was signed; and with which Department of the United States Administration each was signed.

Geoff Hoon: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Colchester Garrison

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 1 July 2002, Official Report, column 36W, if the Investment Approvals Board has further considered the Colchester Garrison PFI project; if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Board's considerations; and when it will next meet to consider this matter.

Adam Ingram: The Colchester Garrison PFI Project remains under review by the Investment Approvals Board (IAB), and an outcome of their considerations has not yet been reached. The IAB is scheduled to convene again on 12 August.

Runways

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's airfields in the UK have runways in excess of 1,800 metres in length; how many have a runway and taxiway bearing strength sufficient to take large civil aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The table lists all Ministry of Defence airfields with runways in excess of 1,800 metres. 16 of these 34 airfields, indicated by '*', can in principle accommodate a large civil aircraft, such as a DC10. To give a specific answer on the capability of any of these airfields to take large civil aircraft, details would be required of the aircraft type, variant, Aircraft Classification Number (ACN), maximum all up weight and tyre pressure for the load to be carried, as well as details of crash category and handling equipment requirements.
	Barkston Heath
	Benson
	Boscombe Down
	Brize Norton*
	Chievnor
	Church Fenton
	Coltishall*
	Coningsby*
	Cottesmore*
	Cranwell
	Culdrose
	Dishforth
	Fairford*
	Kinloss*
	Lakenheath*
	Leeming*
	Leuchars
	Llanbedr
	Lossiemouth
	Lyneham
	Marham*
	Mildenhall*
	Odiham
	Scampton*
	Shawbury
	St. Athan
	St. Mawgan*
	Topcliffe
	Valley
	Waddington*
	Wattisham*
	Wittering*
	Wyton*
	Yeovilton.

Military Maritime Graves

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in offering protection to military maritime graves.

Lewis Moonie: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 9 November 2001, Official Report, column 435W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore). A Statutory Instrument (SI) was made on 9 July 2002 which prohibits intrusive activity without licence on 11 vessels: HMS Bulwark, HMS Dasher, HMS Formidable, HMS Hampshire, HMS Natal, HMS A7, HMS Vanguard, HMS Affray, HMS Exmouth, HMS Royal Oak and H5, and in addition the U-boat U12, as representative of all U-boats lost in United Kingdom territorial waters. The SI prohibits intrusive activity without licence by UK national on a further five vessels: HMS Hood, HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Repulse, HMS Gloucester and RFA Sir Galahad which lie in international waters. These regulations come into force on 30 September 2002.

Army Headquarters

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has completed the final assessment of the decision to locate the Army's headquarters in the north in Edinburgh.

Lewis Moonie: A post Project Evaluation into this decision has been completed and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Warship Support Agency

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the Warship Support Agency for financial year 2002–03.

Lewis Moonie: Key Targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the War Support Agency for financial year 2002–03. The targets build on progress already made and are as follows:
	Key Target 1: Timeliness
	Upkeep period timeliness—target: Less than 7 per cent.
	Key Target 2: Quantity
	Available Vessel Days—target: More than 95 per cent.
	Key Target 3: Timeliness
	Timely completion of high priority upgrade programme—target: 95 per cent.
	Key Target 4: Quantity
	Provision of the appropriate standard of single living accommodation to Naval Personnel—target: 25 per cent. Key Target 5: Quality
	Operational support services—meeting the customers need ISO Quality Control Comment Form—targets:
	Group 1: 0 failures
	Group 2: Less than 1 per cent. failure
	Group 3: Less than 5 per cent. failure
	Survey target:
	Greater than or equal to 95 per cent. to standard by survey
	Greater than or equal to 45 per cent. of customers more than satisfied Key Target 6: Quantity
	Availability of material/manpower to Support the Naval Force General Plan—target: green assessment against all elements.
	Key Target 7: Cost/Efficiency
	To make the necessary Agency contribution to the DLO Strategic Goal of reducing output costs by 20 per cent. by 2005 while ensuring that we continue to deliver and indeed where appropriate improve the quality of our outputs.

RAF Personnel Management Agency

Jim Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what key targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the RAF Personnel Management Agency for the financial year 2002–03;
	(2)  what key targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the RAF Personnel Management Agency for financial year 2002–03.

Lewis Moonie: The Commander-in-Chief Royal Air Force Personnel and Training Command has set the Chief Executive of the Agency the following targets for financial year 2002–03.
	Key Target 1: Peacetime Manning
	Performance indicator: The percentage of available trained personnel either filling established posts or on diversions for which there is an approved Manning and Training Margin—Greater than or equal to 93.25 per cent.
	Key Target 2: Operational and Non-Operational MOD Authorised Unestablished Tasks
	Performance indicator: The percentage manning level of operational and non-operational MOD authorised unestablished tasks—target: Greater than or equal to 98 per cent.
	Key Target 3: Career Management
	Performance indicator: The percentage of PMA's customers who are either satisfied or not dissatisfied with the service provided by the PMA—target: Greater than or equal to 82.5 per cent.
	Key Target 4: Manpower Planning
	Performance indicator: Percentage variation between actual trained strength and the authorised trained strength taken as an average over the financial year—target: No greater than or equal to ±1 per cent.
	Key Target 5: Efficiency
	Performance indicator: Maintain operating costs within resources allocated—target: Expenditure contained within RCT.

Duke of York's Royal Military School

Jim Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the Duke of York's Royal Military School for the financial year 2002–03.

Lewis Moonie: The Chief Executive of the Duke of York's Royal Military School has been set the following Key Targets for 2002–03.
	Key Target 1
	To achieve 95.9 per cent. of 15-year-old pupils gaining five or more passes graded A* to C at GCSE.
	Key Target 2
	To achieve 23.93 per cent. of GCSE passes at grades A* or A.
	Key Target 3
	To achieve an average GCSE points score per 15-year-old pupil of 57.36.
	Key Target 4
	To achieve an average GCE points score per candidate of 20.59.
	Key Target 5
	To achieve 38.72 per cent. of GCE passes at grades A or B.
	Key Target 6
	To achieve a pupil per capita cost of no more than £12,542.
	Key Target 7
	To generate income of at least £600,000.
	Key Target 8
	To achieve at least 300 applications for September 2003 intake.

Afghanistan

Eric Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to send a TA infantry platoon to support the International Security and Assistance Force in Afghanistan.

Lewis Moonie: We plan to deploy a composite Territorial Army infantry platoon to Kabul in order to provide a protection platoon to the United Kingdom component to the International Security and Assistance Force. The platoon will comprise members of the Territorial Army who have volunteered to be called out for this task. They will be mobilised at the end of July and deployed for three months from the end of August. The deployment is in line with the policy of making the Territorial Army more usable and integrated with the regular force.

Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Defence Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency for the financial year 2001–02.

Lewis Moonie: The role of the Defence Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency is to provide imagery intelligence and geographic support to Defence policy, operations and training; to meet customer requirements for imagery intelligence and geographic support in accordance with Defence priorities; to maintain and develop Agency capabilities and readiness in line with future Defence requirements; and to become progressively more efficient, while improving the quality and delivery of its products and services. The Key Targets for the Agency for the 12 months from April 2002 are:
	Key Target 1
	To satisfy operational requirements for Imagery Intelligence and Geographic Support within time scales and to standards agreed between the Agency and its customers.
	(a) For Imagery Intelligence, by satisfying at least 95 per cent. of requirements overall, while delivering not less than 98 per cent. of Priority 1 tasks.
	(b) For Geographic Support, by satisfying 100 per cent. of the geographic products and services essential to support current and potential operations, both from the Agency's United Kingdom based capabilities and its deployable units. Key Target 2 To achieve the required levels of operational readiness for the deployable geographic support elements of the Agency in line with Defence Planning Assumptions.
	To maintain agreed states of readiness as set by PJHQ for all contingency forces (JRRF).
	Key Target 3
	To satisfy strategic and contingency requirements for Imagery Intelligence and Geographic Support within time scales and to standards agreed between the Agency and its customers.
	(a) For Imagery Intelligence, by satisfying at least 54 per cent. of the requirements as set out in the Imagery Exploitation Programme (IEP) agreed during Financial Year (FY) 2001–02, while delivering not less than 92 per cent. of Priority 1 tasks.
	(b) For Geographic Support, completing at least 90 per cent. of a customer endorsed programme of work for geographic products and services. Key Target 3T (Transitional)
	To develop Regional Support Agreements (RSAs) and establish an accurate baseline of the totality of Defence requirements for geographic information to be used as measurement in FY 2003–04.
	The implementation of the new Key Target.
	Key Target 4
	To demonstrate a further 1 per cent. improvement in the coverage of geographic information holdings resulting in a cumulative 3 per cent. improvement on the baseline established in 1999 and to maintain their quality for Defence use.
	Maintain the Ministry of Defence Map Library collection at the agreed level of readiness and achieve a further 1 per cent. improvement in coverage of geographic information holdings.
	Key Target 5T (Transitional)
	In FY 2002–03, to develop output related targets and performance measures for implementation in FY 2003–04, which taken together across the Agency deliver outputs through a more efficient utilisation of resources.
	The implementation of the new Key Target.

Army Personnel Centre Agency

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Army Personnel Centre Agency for the financial year 2002–03.

Lewis Moonie: The Chief Executive of the Army Personnel Centre has been set the following key targets for 2002–03:
	Key Target 1
	To maintain at 94 per cent., the percentage of posts which are manned (excluding posts gapped for less than 28 days and all posts for private soldiers and subaltern officers). The 2001–02 performance was the maintenance of 94 per cent. of posts manned.
	Key Target 2
	To increase to 98 per cent. the proportion of personnel posted in-year by the APC whose rank and service qualifications meet the specifications of the post. The 2001–02 performance was 98 per cent. of personnel posted in-year who met the specifications of the post.
	Key Target 3
	To increase to at least 65 per cent., the percentage of in-year postings authorised by the APC where personnel are given at least four months notification. The 2001–02 output was 63 per cent. of personnel were given at least four months notification.
	Key Target 4
	To remain within 0 per cent. to -1 per cent. of the annual resource allocation while achieving targets.

Transport and Movements Agency

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Defence Transport and Movements Agency for the financial year 2002–03.

Jim Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Defence Transport and Movements Agency for the financial year 2002–03.

Lewis Moonie: The Chief Executive of the Defence Transport and Movements Agency has been set the following Key Targets for 2002–03:
	Key Target 1
	To meet the customer's requirements as negotiated and agreed in Customer Supplier Agreements.
	Key Target 1a
	95 per cent. or more of Agency transactions and services provided under call-off contracts to be within agreed (TQQC) criteria.
	Key Target 1b
	At least 92 per cent. of transactions against each Agency service, and call-off contracts, to be within agreed (TQQC) criteria.
	Key Target 2
	To achieve an overall 3 per cent. increase in efficiency.
	Key Target 3
	To demonstrate improved net added value.
	Key Target 4
	To achieve at least a satisfactory rating in the provision of operational transport and movements support.

British Forces Post Office Agency

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the British Forces Post Office Agency for the financial year 2002–03.

Jim Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the British Forces Post Office Agency for the financial year 2002–03.

Lewis Moonie: The chief executive of the British Forces Post Office Agency has been set the following key targets for 2002–03:
	Key Target 1
	To meet 95 per cent. of customers' requirements as negotiated and agreed in customer supplier agreements.
	Key Target 2
	To achieve an overall 4 per cent. increase in efficiency.
	Key Target 3
	To reduce the net level of Customer Care Unit (CCU) compensation paid that is directly attributable to BFPO by 3 per cent. on the 2001–02 financial year.

Storage and Distribution Agency

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency for the financial year 2002–03.

Jim Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency for the financial year 2002–03.

Lewis Moonie: The Chief Executive of the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency (DSDA) has been set the following key targets for 2002–03:
	Key Target 1
	To meet the customers' requirements as negotiated and agreed in customer supplier agreements.
	Key Target 1a
	95 per cent. of all issues to consumers to meet that element of the supply chain pipeline for which DSDA has a responsibility.
	Key Target 1b
	98 per cent. of all receipts that conform to the specifications laid down in the contract and/or material regulations to be processed within time limits agreed with each individual customer.
	Key Target 2
	To achieve an overall 5 per cent. reduction in the unit cost of output.
	Key Target 3
	The value of inventory written-off as a result of DSDAs action to be less than levels agreed within each specific customer supplier agreement.

Training Group Defence Agency

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the Training Group Defence Agency for the financial year 2002–03.

Jim Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the Training Group Defence Agency for the financial year 2002–03.

Lewis Moonie: The Commander-in-Chief Royal Air Force Personnel and Training Command has set the Chief Executive of the Agency the following targets for financial year 2002–03.
	Key Target 1—Training Output
	To recruit and select Royal Air Force personnel in the required numbers to achieve the Into Training Targets defined by the Royal Air Force manning plans.
	To train aircrew of the three services to standards for entry to the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy Operational Conversion Unit training, the Defence Helicopter Flying School and other specialist flying training courses.
	To train military personnel to the standards required to undertake ground appointments.
	
		KT1a—Quantity of Output (ab initio flying training)—the number of RAF aircrew trainees graduated as follows:
		
			  Target 
		
		
			 Fast Jet Pilots 67 
			 Multi-Engine Pilots 57 
			 Rotary Wing Pilots 33 
			 Fast Jet Navigators 28 
			 Multi-Engine Navigators 9 
			 Rotary Wing Navigators 10 
			 Airman Aircrew 104 
		
	
	
		KT1b—Quantity of Output (ab initio ground training)—the number of RAF trainees who graduated from the following courses:
		
			  Target 
		
		
			 Officer Initial Specialist Training 358 
			 RAF Tradesmen Training 2,104 
		
	
	Key Target 2—Quality of Output (Training Places)
	To train the aircrew of the three services to standards for entry to the Royal Air Force, to Royal Navy Operational Conversion Unit, the Defence Helicopter Flying School and other specialist flying training courses.
	To train military personnel to the standards required to undertake ground appointments.
	
		KT2a—Training Place (Flying)(3)
		
			  Target 
		
		
			 Flying Training Courses—RN 202 
			 Flying Training Courses—Army 374 
			 RAF Flying Instructor Courses 150 
			 RAF Refresher and Orientation Courses 170 
			 RAF Specialist and Operational Courses 240 
			 Flying Training (F and C) 92 
		
	
	(3) The number of training places provided on the following RN, Army, RAF instructor Refresher and Orientation, and specialist and operational flying courses. Also, the number of training places provided for Foreign and Commonwealth (F and C) flying courses.
	
		KT2b—Training Places (Ground)
		
			  Target 
		
		
			 Pre-Employment Training 15,547 
			 Career Development Training 6,506 
		
	
	Key Target 3—Quality of Output
	To underpin the military effectiveness of the Royal Air Force by the timely provision of military personnel trained to the standards agreed with the Agency's customers.
	KT3—Quality of Output: Achievement of a satisfactory assessment of customer satisfaction with the quality of graduate trainees as reflected in an assessment based on a matrix of the following measures:
	Reports from the Aircrew Training Standards Sub-Committees;
	Quantitative reports from the Owner's Customer Advisory Committee;
	Quantitative reports on the satisfaction level of graduate trainees.
	Target: Satisfactory rating. Key Target 4—Cost Management
	To ensure the necessary systems are in place to manage the business on an output cost basis.
	KT4—Cost Management: Output based management.
	Target: Deliver an Agency wide prototype of the planned financial management and accounting system to provide unit costs of output by 31 March 2003. Key Target 5—Efficiency
	KT5—Efficiency: By 2005–06, reduce by 3 per cent. the average annual per capita cost of training a successful recruit to the agreed standard.
	Target: Performance level for 2002–03 to be £0.138 million.

Queen Victoria School

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Chief Executive of Queen Victoria school for the financial year 2002–03.

Lewis Moonie: The Chief Executive of Queen Victoria school has been set the following key targets for 2002–03:
	Key Target 1
	To maintain the staying on rate at school of S4 to S5 at a minimum of four per cent. above the Scottish national average. 1
	Key Target 2
	To maintain the percentage of pupils obtaining at least five credit awards at standard grade at two per cent. above the Scottish national average. 1
	Key Target 3
	To maintain a percentage of the S4 roll gaining 3+ awards at level 6 or better by the end of S5, at least equal to the Scottish national average. 1
	Key Target 4
	To achieve a pupil per capita cost of not more than £14,000 by March 2003.
	Key Target 5
	To generate gross income to the school of at least £295,000 per annum.
	1 All Queen Victoria school statistics to be based on the school's results over the last three years, compared with the Scottish national average for the current year, those statistics being as published in the Scottish Executive Official Statistics.

Test and Evaluation Facilities

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future provision of test and evaluation facilities.

Lewis Moonie: It is widely recognised that the Test and Evaluation (T&E) business has been in need of radical restructuring for many years. As part of tackling this problem head on, a long-term partnering contract is currently being negotiated with QinetiQ for the delivery of the T&E capability. The process includes the Ministry of Defence setting challenging targets to ensure that the T&E structure is more closely aligned with MOD's requirement for T&E capabilities. To achieve this within the taut budget, QinetiQ has put forward a number of proposals, which aim to remove excess capacity, duplication and obsolete facilities.
	QinetiQ has identified three major rationalisation proposals for the air ranges. These are: conversion of the Aberporth range to an instrumented training range, the closure of Llanbedr airfield, and the reduction to campaign operation status of the West Freugh range.
	The proposals will potentially deliver net savings in excess of £300 million across the life of the 25-year contract, and will transform the T&E business into the effective, modern organisation that we require.
	The delivery of these savings is likely to lead to around 400 job losses, spread across all three establishments. I will be writing today to fully inform interested parties, including the unions, about the proposals beginning the consultation process.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Consultations

Patsy Calton: To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick- upon-Tweed, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission how many times the Electoral Commission has been consulted in accordance with 7(1) and 2(h) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000; where their consultation responses are reported; and on how many occasions the Electoral Commission has provided a response.

Alan Beith: I will write to the hon. Member.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

World Bank

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the forthcoming United Nations world summit on sustainable development will review the performance of the World bank business partners for development initiative.

Sally Keeble: Business Partners for Development (BDP) was a project-based initiative set up in 1998 to initiate partnerships for development. It involved 30 focus projects in 20 countries around the world. The BPD final report containing conclusions and recommendations was launched in April of this year. An independent evaluation of BPD, funded by my Department and the World bank, has already been conducted, and the findings will be available later this month. WSSD will review general progress on sustainable development to see where the implementation gaps are, as well as new challenges. Although not formally part of the WSSD process, the review will of course be available to all participants.

Zimbabwe

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she next expects to meet representatives of international aid agencies to discuss their plans for assisting Zimbabwe; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: My Department is in frequent contact with representatives of development agencies in Harare and internationally. We are working to try to prevent the current crisis becoming a catastrophe but the situation is very worrying.

Zimbabwe

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her policy towards aid for Zimbabwe.

Clare Short: Our aim is to prevent loss of life arising from current food shortages and the increasing burden of disease and to support survival strategies of the poorest people. We have increased our financial provision for Zimbabwe to £32 million to meet humanitarian needs. Aid is being channelled through non-governmental and international organisations.

Cameroon

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to relieve poverty among the anglophobe minority in Cameroon.

Clare Short: The support my department provides to Cameroon is not restricted to a particular linguistic or ethnic group. As part of the international community we support Cameroon's efforts to develop a poverty reduction strategy for all its people. Moreover, my department contributes directly to overall poverty reduction through our support to the forestry sector, in recognition of the sector's importance to the Cameroonian economy and the number of poor people living in the forest zone.

Famine (Southern Africa)

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what she is doing to prevent famine in southern Africa.

Clare Short: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Banbury (Tony Baldry) on 17 June 2002, Official Report, columns 58–59W. Since then our contribution to the world food programme has been used to buy about 60,000 tonnes of commodities which are being shipped now. Further allocations from the overall commitment of £45 million have been made to NGOs, and support has been provided for logistics personnel and vulnerability and nutrition assessments.

Fatal Diseases

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action she is taking to tackle (a) HIV/AIDS, (b) TB, (c) malaria and (d) other fatal diseases.

Clare Short: Approximately half of infectious disease deaths in developing countries can be attributed to three diseases: HIV, TB and malaria, which cause more than five million deaths per year. DFID is working to strengthen developing countries' health systems to deliver effective services to the poorest. We have committed more than £1 billion to that purpose since 1997. The UK has also taken an active role in the establishment of the global fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria, which is designed to improve provision of drugs and commodities to treat those diseases. DFID has pledged $200 million over five years for the fund.

Clean Water (Africa)

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to improve supply of clean water in Africa.

Clare Short: My Department is working with Governments, civil society and the private sector to achieve the Millennium development goals for access to safe water in Africa. With all partners we seek to ensure that activities are sustainable and have a pro-poor focus. Expenditure on water in Africa was over £29 million last year.

Sub-Sahara

Peter Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her policy towards assisting economic and agricultural developments in the sub-Sahara.

Clare Short: DFID policy is to work with African Governments to implement internationally agreed poverty reduction strategies and to work through multilateral organisations, African institutions and the international community to promote private investment, create an equitable international trading system and bring an end to conflict in Africa.

Trade Links

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she will take to seek reform of European Union policy on international aid and development relating to promotion of trade links with aid recipients.

Clare Short: The European Union has three instruments to help improve trading opportunities for developing countries:
	First, the Everything but Arms initiative (EBA), which grants the worlds 49 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) duty and quota free access to EU markets for all their export products, excluding arms and munitions.
	Second, the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), which are about to be negotiated with the 77 countries of the African, Caribbean and Pacific regions which are party to the Cotonou Agreement. These EPAs will seek to create WTO compatible free trade areas between coherent groups of ACP countries and the EU.
	Third, the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), which grants all developing countries zero or reduced tariffs on the majority of their exports to the EU.
	The Government will continue to work to improve the trade access offered under these arrangements.

Agricultural Exports

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the impact on the economies of developing countries of subsidised agricultural exports from the European Union; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: The UK understands the damaging impact of subsidised agriculture exports on developing countries. We recognise that subsidised agriculture exports have a dampening effect on world prices and thus constrain agriculture investment and growth in developing countries. The UK is therefore pressing for substantial CAP reform under the current mid-term review, to reduce EU subsidies.

Ethiopia

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the development aid she is providing to Ethiopia.

Clare Short: We are building up a development partnership with Ethiopia which will support the Ethiopian Government's Poverty Reduction Strategy. We understand that the Government of Ethiopia hope to produce a final version of the strategy in the next few weeks. Excluding humanitarian support our initial aid framework for 2002/03 was £9 million. There are also additional funds for a three-year input to help tackle HIV/AIDS.
	Current and planned support includes assistance in the road sector, water, food security including rural transportation, pastoralism and tax reform. We are currently developing a strategy for future years when the programme will expand. The strategy will address which sectors will be focus areas for DFID support. There will be full consultation during the strategy process. Initial discussions with the Ethiopian Government suggest that our focus should be on education, food security and capacity building across sectors. We shall continue to bear in mind political developments in Ethiopia while drawing up our plans.

Afghanistan

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the oral answer of 26 June 2002, Official Report, column 866, on Afghanistan, what the result has been of the Under- Secretary of State's inquiries.

Clare Short: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 16 July 2002, Official Report, column 258W.

Afghanistan

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.

Clare Short: Thanks to the efforts of the UN-led humanitarian system, with the support of the international community, a potential humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan after 11 September 2001 has been avoided. The achievements of recent months have led to an optimism that can be seen in the massive influx of returning refugees from neighbouring countries—over 1.25 million Afghan refugees have returned to their country since 1 March 2002. However, serious challenges remain. Chronic malnutrition, food shortages and socio-economic vulnerability are still alarmingly high. According to the UN, almost one third of the Afghan population is dependant on some form of emergency assistance. In many parts of the country these challenges are compounded by problems of access due to continuing insecurity, the presence of land mines and UXOs, and, in the later winter months, will be further complicated by heavy snows and extreme cold temperatures.
	The United Nations estimates that donors must provide a further US$780 million in order to meet immediate requirements in Afghanistan up to December 2002; almost US$400 million of which is required to cover needs over the next three months. Support from the international community, under the guidance of the Afghan transitional administration (ATA), will be used to address the on-going humanitarian crisis, support the return of refugees to Afghanistan, develop a comprehensive analysis of and approach to vulnerability in Afghanistan, and support the transition of competence, ownership and technical capacity to the ATA to meet the immediate needs of its own people.
	In addition to the £60 million that my Department disbursed from September 2001 to March 2002 under our humanitarian programme, we pledged at the Tokyo conference in January 2002 to commit a further £200 million over the next five years. This amount is already being allocated and disbursed. We are fully committed to helping to meet the immediate priorities of the ATA and are encouraging other donors to do likewise by maximising their contributions and speeding up the disbursement of promised assistance.

Afghanistan

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's relief activities in northern Afghanistan.

Clare Short: My Department is supporting a range of humanitarian agencies working across Afghanistan, including in northern areas; these include UN humanitarian agencies, the Red Cross, and international and national non-governmental organisations (NGOs). We remain concerned about continuing insecurity in northern Afghanistan, including attacks against NGOs. We support. the actions of the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General, Lakhdar Brahimi, who has written to President Karzai, and visited the north to impress upon the various factions the need for a secure environment. Other UN representatives have also visited insecure areas and received assurances from local leaders that measures are being put in place to control factional fighting and allow for the safe delivery of humanitarian and recovery assistance. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Afghanistan

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much of the aid money promised to Afghanistan has reached that country.

Clare Short: Precise data on the disbursement of aid to Afghanistan are not yet available. However, we estimate that donor pledges to Afghanistan amount to a little under $2 billion in 2002, of which about $1.1 billion has been committed and about $0.8 billion disbursed. The pace of further disbursements will now depend on improvements in security and access and on the completion of the national Development Framework and Development Budget.
	The UK has disbursed over £60 million to Afghanistan since September 2002 and is in the process of completing a further round of disbursements to UN agencies, NGOs, quick impact projects and the Afghan Authority for the Co-ordination of Assistance.

Social Exclusion

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance her Department is giving to programmes combating social exclusion of vulnerable groups in south eastern Europe.

Clare Short: We are working with governments, civil society and international organisations in the region to tackle this issue. Specifically: we are supporting two regional programmes on promotion of minority rights and rights and access to justice for Roma communities and a project in Bulgaria focused in reduction in social exclusion. In Romania we are assisting the Anti-Poverty Commission to develop a social exclusion policy.
	We are funding projects in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Croatia, Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria to assist with the reform of social policy, focused on more effective social services, social welfare and employment systems, including improved cooperation between government and civil society. These will, in part, address the situation of socially-excluded groups. These projects are mostly linked to World bank structural adjustment credits.
	We are supporting poverty surveys in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania to assist the authorities in identifying the features of poverty and monitoring measures to address it.
	We have provided grants totalling £8.4 million to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia for family welfare payments targeted at the poorest section of the population.
	We have assisted with the preparation of a Poverty Reduction Strategy for Albania, and are supporting their preparation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and Serbia.
	We are working with the World bank to support social mitigation programmes in Romania (targeted at ex-mining communities) and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Also in Romania we are assisting the Social Development Fund.
	In Romania and Bulgaria we are supporting child welfare and protection projects.
	In Albania we are funding a programme of support to rural livelihoods, targeted at the poorer, mountainous regions.

Sexual and Reproductive Health

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on UK funding to international sexual and reproductive health organisations.

Clare Short: My Department supports a number of international sexual and reproductive health organisations which share our aim of eliminating poverty including United Nations agencies and non-governmental organisations. We believe that the goal of the international conference on population and development of universal access to reproductive health is central to attainment of the health Millennium Development Goals, specifically those related to maternal mortality, HIV/AIDS and child mortality. Without access to high quality reproductive health services and care, it is most unlikely that progress will be achieved in meeting the health MDGs. We will continue to support international organisations which make an effective contribution to these goals, and of course the efforts of governments seeking to improve people's access to reproductive health services.

Departmental Management Board

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development who has been recruited as non-executive directors to her Department's management board.

Clare Short: Bill Griffiths, Director of WRG Associates, and Nemat Shafik, Vice-President for Private Sector Development and Infrastructure at the World bank, have been recruited as non-executive Directors to sit on DFID's Management Board. Mr. Griffiths will also chair our Audit Committee.

Common Agricultural Policy

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the European Commission's proposal for the reform of the common agricultural policy, with particular reference to farmers in developing countries; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Banbury (Tony Baldry) on 17 July 2002, Official Report, column 261W.

Gujarat

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance she has given to refugees in the State of Gujarat.

Clare Short: My Department has provided nearly £750,000 of assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Gujarat, channelled through international and local NGOs operational on the ground.

Primary Education

Malcolm Savidge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of World Bank proposals to fast-track support for primary education in certain poor countries.

Clare Short: The Government are strongly committed to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on education and is working to mobilise the international community in support of them. The World bank has a critical role in supporting countries as they seek to give priority to education, and primary education in particular, within the overall context of their poverty reduction strategies. We have been working with the Bank to develop its new Action Plan for accelerating progress towards Education for All.
	We believe the World bank Action Plan's fast-track initiative provides an opportunity to try to ensure that no country genuinely committed to economic development, poverty reduction and good governance is denied the chance to achieve universal primary education through lack of resources. The Government were successful in calling for the fast-track initiative to include Nigeria and Ethiopia, where over 14 million children are out of school. It offers 18 poor countries the chance to qualify for additional financing for primary education if they can demonstrate that their Government is fully committed and has effective policies in place. A further five countries can apply for assistance in building capacity, filling gaps in data and developing effective policies for primary education.
	The Government are committed to further increasing our support for basic education, particularly in Africa. We will continue to support the Fast Track proposals and participate in on-going discussions with the World bank about implementation arrangements.

Primary Education

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she expects the additional resources committed for good quality primary education to the group of 18 countries selected to receive immediate financing to be provided.

Clare Short: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Banbury (Tony Baldry) on 17 July 2002, Official Report, column 291W.

Steel Industry (Eastern Europe)

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her Department's policy is in relation to financial support for the steel industry in eastern Europe.

Clare Short: The UK believes that the countries of Eastern Europe need to privatise and restructure their steel industries as part of their transition from central planning to open market orientated economies. Privatisation and restructuring help to improve efficiency and enable governments to redirect subsidies—which currently keep inefficient companies afloat—into investment in essential public services.
	The UK does not provide direct financial support to the steel industry in Eastern Europe. The UK is a shareholder in the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) which both support the restructuring of former communist economies in Eastern Europe, including through non-concessional loans to support steel industry privatisation and restructuring.

Renewable Energy

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action she is taking to widen access to renewable energy in developing countries.

Clare Short: My Department takes the approach that a full menu of options should be considered when providing access to energy in developing countries, not just renewable energy. Poor people will rely on fossil fuels and traditional biomass resources for many years to come, so cleaner more efficient uses of these energy resources should not be ignored.
	Our recent consultation document 'Energy for the Poor' invited comments on the role that DFID can play in providing poor people in developing countries with access to energy for poverty reduction. The final Paper will be produced in August.
	We have a number of on-going activities in the energy sector in specific countries, which are listed on the attachments to this reply, together with details of our research work in this sector. We are also a contributor to the multi-donor technical co-operation facilities (ESMAP and PPIAF), which have activities in the energy sector, some of which include renewables. Brief details of the work of these are also attached to this reply.

Commodity Prices

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans her Department has to ensure that the work done to reduce the debt burden of highly indebted poor countries and other countries is not undermined by recent declines in commodity prices.

Clare Short: The Government have been working to try to ensure that countries exit the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative process with sustainable debt levels. At the Annual Meetings of the World bank and IMF we asked the World bank staff to revisit the debt sustainability analyses of all commodity dependent low-income countries, including HlPCs. The IMF and World bank analysis shows that, although the situation varies from country to country, the external debt indicators for most HIPC countries have deteriorated, and several HIPC countries now face unsustainable debt burdens as a result. Following UK pressure, the World bank and IMF Boards have agreed to provide additional relief to countries in this situation. This was reconfirmed at the Spring meetings, in April, and Burkina Faso became the first HIPC country to benefit from 'topping up' at Completion Point.

World Summit

Iain Luke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her priorities are for the world summit on sustainable development in September.

Clare Short: The Government's strategic objective for the world summit is to make globalisation work for sustainable development, especially for the poorest. We see the summit as part of a broader process that includes the Millennium Declaration, the WTO Doha Development Agenda and the agreement reached at the Financing for Development Conference in Monterrey.

HIV/AIDS

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the affordability of HIV/AIDS drugs to patients in Africa.

Clare Short: The Government are strongly committed to increasing access to essential medicines for the world's poor, especially in Africa.
	The Working Group on Access to Medicines, which I chair, has brought together UK Government, pharmaceuticals and others over the last year to look at options for bringing about widespread, sustainable and predictable differential pricing of medicines, including HIV/AIDS drugs. Good progress has been made. The final meeting will be held tomorrow and the group will report back to the Prime Minister by September.
	Affordability is only one of four key factors that influence access to medicines. Others are the need for sustainable financing, the rational selection and use of existing drugs and reliable health and supply systems.
	On sustainable financing, we have pledged $200 million over five years to the Global Fund to Fight TB, AIDS and Malaria (GFATM). We have also committed over £1 billion since 1997 to strengthening developing countries' health systems, building their capacity both to deliver medicines to the poor and to make effective choices about the selection and use of drugs.

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if the Government support a continued role for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in the EU candidate countries after accession.

Clare Short: Yes. We have refined the view taken in the UK's institutional strategy paper for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) that accession to the EU would complete transition for eligible countries and should trigger a graduation from EBRD operations. We now consider that there will still be important transition challenges in less advanced sectors of the countries of Central Europe and the Baltics after they join the EU. Working within its three key principles—transition impact, additionality and sound banking—the EBRD will continue to have a role assisting the countries address these challenges. The UK believes that the EBRD should take a strategic approach, co-ordinating closely with other public institutions and working to widen the benefits of transition to those who have benefited least.

Parliamentary Questions

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she will answer the written question from the hon. Member for Chichester, tabled on 22 May, on the official travel of departmental and non-departmental special advisers.

Clare Short: According to the Order Paper, no such question was tabled to my Department on 22 May by the hon. Member for Chichester.

Temporary Staff

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many employees under contract from temping agencies worked in her Department; and how much was spent on temporary staff (a) in total and (b) as a percentage of the total staffing budget in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Clare Short: The information on staff numbers is set out in the following table as at 1 April 2001 and 1 April 2002, which are the only two of the last five years for which figures are available. The table shows the information as a percentage of total DFID staff numbers in the UK.
	
		
			  April 2001 April 2002 
		
		
			 Temporary agency staff employed 29 58 
			
			 Temporary agency staff as a percentage of total staff number in UK 2.2 3.6 
		
	
	No central data are held on the cost of agency staff. However as a proportion of the total staffing budget, this will be less than percentages for staff numbers shown in the table because the majority of such staff are contracted to fill temporary positions at junior level.

Departmental Bodies

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many jobs under the remit of her Department in (a) the core Department, (b) non- departmental public bodies, (c) executive agencies and (d) independent statutory bodies, organisations and bodies financially sponsored by her Department and other such organisations, are located in (i) Scotland, (ii) England, excluding Greater London, (iii) Greater London, (iv) Wales, (v) Northern Ireland and (vi) overseas, broken down by (A) whole-time equivalent jobs and (B) the percentage per individual Department, body or organisation.

Clare Short: The information in respect of DFID's civil service posts as at 1 April 2002 is contained in the table. Information in the other categories listed is not readily available.
	
		
			  Number Percentage of total 
		
		
			 Scotland 527 33.5 
			 Greater London 791 50.3 
			 Overseas 255 16.2

G8 (Expenditure and Policies)

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how the G8's commitment to focusing their development efforts on cultures that demonstrate a political and financial commitment to good governance and the rule of law, investing in their people and pursuing policies that spur economic growth and alleviate poverty will be reflected in (a) their development spending for 2003 and (b) their policies in 2003.

Clare Short: Each G8 member will decide for itself how to meet the commitments entered into at the Kananaskis Summit. These commitments reflect the Department for International Development's existing policies as set out in its Strategies for Achieving the International Development Targets published in 2000–01, copies of which are available in the House Library. The Department is currently reviewing how these should be applied to the outcome of the recent Comprehensive Spending Review. The resulting allocation and its underlying rationale will be set out in the 2003 departmental report. In setting our priorities we will take fully into account the extent to which developing country Governments pursue effective pro-poor policies. We encourage other donors to do likewise.

Developing Countries

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to ensure that poorer people in developing countries benefit from water supply projects in which United Kingdom companies invest.

Clare Short: My Department is working in many different ways to ensure that all water companies who engage in water supply projects cater for all, especially the poor. Our policy for achieving the Millennium Development Goal of halving the number of people without access to safe water by 2015 is set out in the strategy paper "Addressing the Water crisis—Healthier and More Productive Lives for Poor People". The policy seems sustainability in water supply and sanitation service delivery with a proper pro-poor focus. We are working with developing country Governments to ensure priority for pro-poor water supply and sanitation services within the Poverty Reduction Strategy processes. We are also supporting a considerable body of research that is seeking specifically to develop mechanisms by which the private sector is able best to provide for the poor.
	My Department has been at the forefront of developing new facilities to ensure that the engagement of the private sector in water supply and sanitation addresses the needs of the poor. These include the Public Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF), which is building capacity for effective regulation, and the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF), which seeks to harmonise developmental and commercial objectives.

Developing Countries

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how OECD guidelines for multinational enterprises, as they relate to developing countries are monitored.

Clare Short: Like all 36 signatories to the OECD Guidelines on Multinational Enterprises (MNEs), the UK has a national contact point (NCP), responsible for ensuring effective implementation of the guidelines, this includes contributing to the resolution of concerns about the behaviour of MNEs raised with it. The UK NCP is based on the Department of Trade and Industry working in liaison with other Government Departments. Signatories to the guidelines recognise that there are greater difficulties in implementing them in non-adhering countries (which includes almost all developing countries), not lest because they do not have NCPs. However, the Government's expectations of UK MNE behaviour are the same wherever they operate. In developing countries positive co-operation between the NCP, UK Government representation locally, business, unions, NGOs, and individuals is important for successful implementation and promotion. The UK Government are working hard to raise the profile of the guidelines in developing countries, for example through the recent G7/8 Action Plan for Africa initiative, through UK overseas posts, and through discussions with fellow signatories and interested parties at the regular NCP meetings in the OECD. We will continue these efforts as it is in developing countries where, arguably, the guidelines can make the most impact.

Consultations

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what public consultations have been commenced by her Department since 1 April; and what the (a) closing date and (b) website address of each were.

Clare Short: Since April 2002, my Department has conducted limited public consultations on the following documents:
	"Better Livelihoods for Poor People: The Role of Agriculture" (consultation closed 5 July 2002)
	A DFID-wide research policy study, "Research For Poverty Reduction", (consultation closed 10 May 2002);
	"Energy for the Poor" (consultation closes 31 July 2002)
	"Making connections: Infrastructure for poverty reduction" (consultation closes 31 July 2002).
	All these documents are made available in print form and electronically on our website www.dfid.gov.uk for the public to comment on.

Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what level of funding her Department intends to provide for research by the Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine in Edinburgh (a) over the current financial year, (b) in the period up to 2005 and (c) after 2005.

Clare Short: The Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine at the University of Edinburgh is contracted by my Department to manage a programme of animal health research. The programme develops, and promotes the adoption of, cost-effective strategies for the sustainable control of livestock diseases affecting the livelihoods of poor people in parts of east and southern Africa and in Asia. The contract runs to March 2005. Funding available under the contract by financial year is:
	2002–03: £3,373,000
	2003–04: £2,771,000
	2004–05: to be determined.
	These figures include funds provided specifically for a project to develop an improved vaccine to prevent losses from East Coast fever, a fatal tick-transmitted disease of cattle in eastern, central and southern Africa.
	No decisions have been taken on funding for animal health research after March 2005.

China

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will ascertain from the Government of China if the population and family planning law due to come into effect in China in September requires detailed population control quotas; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: We understand that the new Population and Family Planning Law in China, which is due to come into effect on 1 September this year, does not include detailed population quotas. The law sets out the rights and responsibilities of the state and individuals in the areas of reproductive health and family planning. Birth targets and quotas remain a feature of population policy in China, but we are supporting the work of the United Nations population fund which seeks to demonstrate to the Chinese authorities that a client-oriented quality of care approach is a viable alternative to the current administrative family planning approach. Birth targets and quotas have been removed in counties where UNFPA is operating.

Somalia

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the answer of 15 July 2002, Official Report, column 41W, on Somalia, which individuals her Department have lobbied for the lifting of the ban on Somali livestock exports.

Clare Short: Our embassies in relevant Arab states have lobbied foreign Ministers about the livestock restrictions affecting Somalia. My Department is in regular touch with the FCO about these efforts.

Comprehensive Spending Review

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimates her Department has made of how the planned increases in her departmental budget announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review will assist in reaching the UN millennium targets for development.

Clare Short: The planned increase in my Department's budget announced in the 2002 spending review settlement will enable us to increase significantly our bilateral contribution to achieving the Millennium Development Goals, and to play a greater role in strengthening the contribution of the international system. There is no room for complacency. Achievement of the Millennium Development Goals will entail a massive collective effort by the entire international community, developed and developing countries, to support poverty reduction. This includes further progress by donors towards the 0.7 per cent. target; delivering on the Doha commitments to make trade fairer for developing countries; improving the effectiveness of development assistance through sharpening its poverty focus; untying and promoting harmonisation of donor practices to reduce transaction costs. for developing countries it means tacking responsibility for developing and implementing poverty reduction policies and tackling the constraints on pro-poor growth including corruption, weak governance and conflict.

Sierra Leone

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the progress being made with the campaign for good governance her Department is supporting in Sierra Leone; and what plans she has for developing further this work.

Clare Short: DFID's current support for the civil society campaign for good governance is committed for two years. Its aim is to help build up a well informed, strong, viable and active civil society that effectively addresses political, socio-economic and human rights issues in Sierra Leone, particularly in areas of corruption, local government, economic empowerment, and the legal and human rights of women. It is just over half way through its course.

Sierra Leone

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement about progress being made with the Chieftans' Government reform projects in Sierra Leone; and what plans she has for developing this work further.

Clare Short: In response to the wishes expressed by civil society, soon after the conclusion of the peace agreement signed at Lomé in July 1999, I agreed to support a project that would help restore the machinery of government at the local level in Sierra Leone. This entailed returning Paramount Chiefs to their Chiefdoms.
	A project was designed for this purpose and became known as the Chiefdom Governance Reform Programme. It had three components: the construction of a chiefdom house from where chiefdom business is conducted; the filling of chiefdom vacancies (there are presently more than 60 and the drafting of a code of conduct that would constitute a uniform set of regulations determining chiefdom administration and practices.
	The project has run its course and has recently been reviewed. The review findings are awaited. They will help to inform us whether we should approve a second phase to complete what we have begun or take forward only a limited range of activity, concentrating on what the review team deem to be the crucial components of the project.

Sierra Leone

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on progress in implementing the EU health programme in Sierra Leone.

Clare Short: The EU Health Sector Support Project was approved under the 8th EDF, National Indicative Programme for Sierra Leone. It will concentrate on revitalising much needed health care delivery and management systems with an emphasis on first contact and first referral levels in rural areas.
	It is disappointing that despite lobbying from DFID and others the project has not yet started, over 18 months since the EDF Committee approved it in November 2000. We are advised that their preliminary assessments will be completed by last August and implementation will commence in early 2003.

Street Children

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of how many street children there are in the developing world; and what plans she has to provide support for the work being done in developing countries to bring street children into mainstream society to benefit from more general education and health programmes;
	(2)  what account her Department will take of the policy statement on promoting and protecting the rights of street children formulated by the South Asian Civil Society Forum meeting in Colombo last December when developing programmes to support Governments in South Asia combating poverty, ill health and poor education.

Clare Short: Children live on the streets because of poverty in their communities. We have no specific estimate of their numbers, but street children form a proportion of the 600 million children who live in poverty, and we know that some 113 six to 11-year-olds are not in school (1998 figure). Some of these will be street children. Support for children's rights to basic health care, education, nutrition, shelter, and protection from violence and abusive labour, along with work on sustainable livelihoods for their parents, is central to our effort towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
	We are currently providing financial support of nearly £2 million to a number of organisations that work directly with street children. We also support many more organisations and Governments working to tackle the underlying causes of the poverty, deprivation, and social exclusion that force children on to the streets.

Arms Exports

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the impact of the proposed changes to guidelines on UK arms exports on the possibility of British military equipment reaching developing countries in regions of instability.

Clare Short: I have made no assessment of the impact of the proposed changes to the guidelines on UK arms exports on the chances of British military equipment reaching developing countries in regions of instability.

Anglo-Scottish Ministerial Meetings

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many formal and official inter-ministerial meetings her Department has held with the Scottish Executive since May 1999, broken down by (a) Scottish Executive Department, (b) subject and (c) date.

Clare Short: I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

Malawi

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the percentage of farmers in Malawi who will receive seed and fertiliser as overseas aid for planting 2003's crop.

Clare Short: DFID is currently discussion with Malawi Government and other potential donors the options for supply of inputs for the 2002–03 crop. These discussions will take account of the national food needs and the availability of finance for this and other interventions within an overall National Food Security Programme. Agreement is expected within the next three weeks to enable registration and required procurement to proceed in a timely manner.

Spring Meetings

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many people attended the spring meetings of the IMF and World bank from (a) her Department and (b) other UK Government Departments; and what the total cost of the visit was.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I am giving today to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow).

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Press Office

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) full- time equivalents were employed by her press office and (b) secondees were placed in her press office in the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 22 July 2002
	As DEFRA was set up in June 2001, information relating to the last five years is not available.
	There are 18 full-time press officer posts in the DEFRA Press Office. None of these posts are secondees.

Farm Payments

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was paid in (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02 to farmers in matching funds to charitable payments.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 23 July 2002
	Under the Charity Matched Funding Scheme, the Government matches charitable donations from the public pound for pound from Government funds. The Government paid over £17,000,000 to charities to alleviate rural hardship resulting from the foot and mouth disease outbreak in match funding in 2001–02. Match Funding was not made available in 2000–01.

Foot and Mouth

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her latest assessment is of the contribution that the closure of footpaths made to resisting the spread of foot and mouth disease.

Alun Michael: In the early stages of last year's outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD), the extent to which the disease might have spread was highly uncertain. At this stage MAFF encouraged local authorities to close footpaths and other rights-of-way on a precautionary basis. On 28 March MAFF and DETR published guidance advising authorities to reopen footpaths as quickly as possible when reopening was justified by the veterinary risk assessment. It is not possible to quantify the impact that footpath closures had in helping to control the disease.
	Responding to the recommendations of the Rural Task Force report published last October, the Government made clear that in any future outbreak of FMD, any restrictions on countryside access would take account both of the requirements of disease control and of the impact on countryside users, the businesses that depend on them, and the wider rural economy. On the basis of the current veterinary risk assessment, closures of rights of way would probably be advised only within a 3 km radius zone around infected premises; this is set out in DEFRA's published Interim Contingency Plan for FMD.
	There is no case in which FMD is known to have been spread by walkers; but the Royal Society's report "Infectious Diseases in Livestock", published last week, states at paragraph 3.24 that
	"There is a theoretical risk that tourists on footpaths close to infected areas can spread disease, particularly if their route brings them into intimate contact with animals, but the actual risks from this source are poorly understood and require proper investigation."
	The Government will respond in full to this and other recommendations from the FMD inquiries later this year.

Bushmeat Trade

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for the latest machinery for monitoring and checking bags to tackle the illegal trade of bushmeat into the UK.

Elliot Morley: In March of this year the Department published its action plan to reduce the risk of plant and animal diseases entering the country and damaging our horticultural and agricultural industries.
	In implementing this action plan the Department has been investigating a variety of alternatives for improved detection and deterrence of illegal imports of meat and animal products. The Department has held discussions with officials from other countries on their experience with different regimes and technologies, as well as other individuals, and has a number of pilot schemes due to start this summer to determine the effectiveness of these in detecting illegal imports of meat and animal products.

Bushmeat Trade

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on those groups which are involved in illegally importing bushmeat into the UK.

Elliot Morley: The Department currently has no conclusive evidence of specific groups involved in the illegal importation of bushmeat into the UK. We are in the process of improving our intelligence gathering and sharing this with enforcement agencies and specialised units such as the Wildlife Crime Unit. If and when such intelligence builds up a suitable evidence action will, of course, be taken accordingly.

Illegal Meat Imports

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what arrangements are in place to check against the illegal importation of meat by sea and air, with specific reference to (a) their cost and (b) man hour equivalents devoted to them.

Elliot Morley: Consignments of meat or animal products entering the European Union are subject to documentary and identification checks as well as physical checks, testing and sampling. The proportion subject to physical checks is dependent on the product—for example, at least 20 per cent. of beef, pork and lamb and at least 50 per cent. of consignments of poultry, game and honey are checked to ensure they comply with the appropriate rules. The cost of these checks are recovered from importers.
	Checks on other consignments not declared as meat or animal products are targeted on a risk basis.
	There are enforcement officers employed by local and port health authorities, HM Customs and Excise, Meat Hygiene Service and DEFRA who contribute directly or indirectly to policing laws on meat imports. Total numbers are not held centrally.
	Targeted checks for illegal imports of meat and animal products are carried out at sea ports and air ports. We do not hold information centrally on the costs of these checks.
	Through its action plan published in March, the Government are stepping up activities to improve the prevention and detection rates for illicit trade. Measures include improved co-ordination and co-operation with, and between, enforcement agencies. Certain measures in the action plan measures will have implications for future arrangements. For example the volume and type of checks made will be informed by the outcome of a disease risk assessment, and how checks are arranged, by the outcome of a Cabinet Office review of the current enforcement arrangements. Both reports are due this autumn.

Illegal Meat Imports

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will make a statement on the Government's strategy to tackle illegal meat importation;
	(2)  what steps she has taken since March to tackle illegal meat importation.

Elliot Morley: The strategy to tackle illegal imports is to assess the disease risks linked to imports; identify the critical control points that need to be strengthened in order to reduce those risks, and to maximise opportunities for the prevention and detection of illicit trade. The strategy is underpinned by improved communication, including campaign to increase public awareness of our import rules and reasons for them.
	The various measures we are taking are set out in the action plan published in March, and which have been endorsed by the Curry, Follett and Anderson reports. I refer the hon. Member to our progress report published on 8 July: a copy of which can be viewed on the illegal imports pages on the DEFRA website (www.defra.gov.uk/ animalh/illegali).

Correspondence

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many letters from hon. Members received by her Department before 1 January have not been answered.

Elliot Morley: As at 23 July there are 113 letters from hon. Members received before 1 January that have not been answered.

Correspondence

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to improve the performance of her Department in replying to correspondence.

Elliot Morley: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and all of her ministerial team have afforded the highest importance to improving performance against correspondence targets and this has been tackled at the highest levels within the Department.
	The Department has addressed this by trebling the number of staff in the correspondence unit and strengthening its line management; introducing a more up to date IT system to facilitate faster transmission of letters within the Department, better case recording and improved management data; strengthening contingency arrangements to deal with surges of correspondence on a particular issue and enhancing guidance and training throughout the department (with input from Ministers) to improve the timeliness and quality of draft replies.

Correspondence

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average time taken by her Department has been to answer a letter from an hon. Member since January; and what the longest time for which such a letter has been awaiting a reply is in this period.

Elliot Morley: The average time taken to answer a letter from an hon. Member since January is 21 working days. The longest time for which such a letter has been awaiting a reply in this period is 139 working days. The latter relates to problems of disruption carried out during the FMD outbreak.

Correspondence

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter of 10 June from the hon. Member for the Vale of York on behalf of constituent L. Peter Davies, concerning the Meat and Livestock Commission.

Elliot Morley: A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 18 July.

Correspondence

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when a reply will be sent to the letter of 4 March from the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar, on behalf of Mrs. Griffin, a constituent.

Elliot Morley: A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 17 July.

Correspondence

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Totnes of 19 April about illegal trade in wildlife, which was transferred to her Department from the Home Office on 26 June.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 23 July 2002
	A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 19 July.

Livestock Movements

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria the Government have set for the removal of the 20 day standstill rule on livestock movement.

Elliot Morley: There is firm veterinary and scientific advice in support of the present 20 day standstill, as a means of helping protect against the rapid spread of any new incursion of disease. Such a standstill both improves the prospect of identifying disease on infected premises before animals move off and slows the rate of spread of any undetected disease.
	Before making a decision on the future of the 20 day rule, we wish to consider—and discuss with stakeholders—the relevant recommendations of the Royal Society and Lessons Learned Inquiries into the FMD outbreak. In reaching a view, we will seek to strike a balance between disease control considerations and the economic impact of movement standstills on livestock farmers and markets.

Rural Farms

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what help she plans to give (a) rural farms to help with modulation and (b) environmental schemes (i) in national parks and (ii) elsewhere.

Elliot Morley: Because of the requirement for match-funding, modulation means an increase in the national funds available to farmers. Depending upon their ability to deliver the objectives of agri-environment or other rural development schemes, farmers may have access to additional funding streams. In England, the Government plan to roll-out a new "broad and shallow", entry-level agri-environment scheme during 2005–06, following a successful pilot. This scheme will be widely drawn so that most farmers will be eligible to enter.
	The scheme will be introduced as an addition to the existing agri-environment schemes, Countryside Stewardship, Environmentally Sensitive Areas and the Organic Farming Scheme. Under the England Rural Development Programme the Government planned to spend a total of £1 billion on these schemes in the period 2000–06.
	There are currently no plans to give English rural farms within national parks additional help with national modulation or environmental schemes over and above that which they receive at present or may be eligible to apply for. However, individual national park authorities are able to negotiate their own management agreements with individual farmers and landowners within their boundary.

Regional Fisheries, Ecology and Recreation Advisory Committees

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many appointments have been made to Regional Fisheries, Ecology and Recreation Advisory Committees since 1997; and how many have a (a) canoeing background and (b) fishing background.

Alun Michael: Regional Fisheries, Ecology and Recreation Advisory Committees were established under the Environment Act of 1995 to replace the previous Regional Fisheries Advisory Committees. Their principal remit is to deal with issues of relevance to fishing. Representation of fishing interests therefore form the majority of their members. There is no statutory requirement to have recreation and navigation interests represented on these committees but the Environment Agency with the approval of Ministers, has agreed that these interests should be represented. The committees comprise no more that 21 members and each has at least two members representing recreation interests.

Public Consultations

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what public consultations have been commenced by her Department since 1 April; and what the (a) closing date and (b) website address of each were.

Elliot Morley: The Department has commenced 28 consultations since 1 April 2002. The following table is a list of the consultations indicating the date it was issued, the deadline for responses and the website address for each consultation.
	
		
			 Current public consultations since 1 April 2002 Date issued Deadline date Website address 
		
		
			 Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control: a Practical Guide, 2 edition—published for comment 28 June 2002 1 November 2002 http://defraweb/environment/ppc/ippcguide/index.htm 
			 Consultation on the proposed Animal Health Rules Regulation 17 July 2002 18 October 2002 http://defraweb/corporate/consult/ahealth/index.htm 
			 New draft Environmental Information Regulations 15 July 2002 4 October 2002 http://defraweb/environment/consult/envinfo/index.htm 
			 Consultation on CAP reform: mid-term review of Agenda 2000 11 July 2002 4 October 2002) http://defraweb/corporate/consult/capreform/index.htm 
			 Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the recognition of professional qualifications (COM (2002) 119 final) 5 July 2002 30 September 2002 http://defraweb/corporate/consult/profqual/index.htm 
			 Review of Access in Agri-Environment Schemes 8 July 2002 27 September 2002 http://defraweb/corporate/consult/erdpaccess/index.htm 
			 Consultation exercise on the bio-energy infrastructure scheme 25 June 2002 16 September 2002 http://defraweb/corporate/consult/bio-energy/index.htm 
			 Crime prevention on rights of way: public consultation paper on the designation of areas and other procedural matters 19 June 2002 20 September 2002 http://defraweb/wildlife-countryside/consult/rowcrime/index.htm 
			 Enforcement of highway authorities' duty to prevent obstructions on rights of way: consultation paper on the implementation of section 63 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 19 June 2002 20 September 2002 http://defraweb/wildlife-countryside/consult/rowcrime/obstruct/index.htm 
			 Implementation of Directive 2000/76/EC on the Incineration of Waste 21 June 2002 9 September 2002 http://defraweb/environment/consult/wasteincin/index.htm 
			 
			 Consultation on shrimp trawls: separator trawls (sieve/veil nets) and sorting grids 18 June 2002 6 September 2002 http://defraweb/corporate/consult/shrimps/index.htm 
			 
			 Draft guidance on control of Johne's disease in dairy herds 31 May 2002 31 August 2002 http://defraweb/corporate/consult/johnes/index.htm 
			 
			 Energy labelling of household air conditioners and electric ovens: Consultation on New Regulations for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland 11 June 2002 30 August 2002 http://defraweb/environment/consult/energylabel/index.htm 
			 
			 Implementation of Directive 2001/18/EC on the Deliberate Release of Genetically Modified Organisms into the Environment: second consultation on new regulations for England 31 May 2002 26 August 2002 http://defraweb/environment/consult/ec-gmo/index.htm 
			 
			 Consultation on Water Grid PPP: Removal of Restrictions on British Waterways' Statutory Powers 15 June 2002 16 August 2002 http://defraweb/environment/consult/bwpowers/index.htm 
			 
			 Statistical methodology review of the monitoring sites used in the air quality headline indicator 15 May 2002 8 August 2002 http://defraweb/environment/statistics/des/airqual/research/index.htm 
			 
			 Consultation on the Government's Strategy for Combined Heat and Power to 2010 15 May 2002 7 August 2002 http://defraweb/environment/consult/chpstrat/index.htm 
			 
			 Policy Review of Woodland Creation in England under the Woodland Grant Scheme and the Farm Woodland Premium Scheme 13 May 2002 7 August 2002 http://defraweb/corporate/consult/woodlandcreation/index.htm 
			 
			 LAPC Consultation on risk-Based Regulation and Inspection Frequency 3 May 2002 2 August 2002 http:///defraweb/environment/consult/lapcrisk/index.htm 
			 
			 Consultation on Stage II Petrol Vapour Recovery 16 April 2002 9 July 2002 http://defraweb/environment/consult/pvrstage2/index.htm 
			 
			 Review of seed certification in England: draft seeds regulations and registration, licensing and enforcement regulation (third consultation) 12 April 2002 8 July 2002 http://defraweb/corporate/consult/seedcert-three/index.htm 
		
	
	
		
			 Closed public consultations since 1 April 2002  Date issued Deadline date Website address 
		
		
			 Economic evaluation of the Apple and Pear Research Council 5 April 2002 27 June 2002 http://defraweb/corporate/consult/aprc/index.htm 
			 
			 Consultation on Sustainable Food and Farming: Working Together 2 April 2002 18 June 2002 http://defraweb/corporate/consult/sustainworking/index.htm 
			 
			 Consultation on possible changes to the Landfill Credit Tax Scheme 17 April 2002 17 June 2002 http://defraweb/environment/consult/landfillcredit/index.htm 
			 
			 Mid-term evaluation of the England Rural Development Programme: consultation on proposed strategy 1 May 2002 12 June 2002 http://defraweb/corporate/consult/erdpstrategy/index.htm 
			 
			 Consultation on proposed Agricultural Development Scheme 10 April 2002 31 May 2002 http://defraweb/corporate/consult/adscheme/index.htm 
			 
			 Consultation on proposals for an EU Directive on environmental liability 12 April 2002 24 May 2002 http://defraweb/environment/consult/liability2/index.htm 
			 
			 Consultation on detailed rules for determining the mesh size of fishing nets 2 April 2002 6 May 2002 http://defraweb/corporate/consult/mesh/index.htm

Groundwater Regulations

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what help and advice is available to sectors affected by the requirements of the Groundwater Regulations 1998.

Michael Meacher: Following publication of a groundwater protection code for sheep dipping last summer, the Department has prepared two further codes of advice. A groundwater protection code for those involved with petrol stations and underground storage tanks for hydrocarbons will be published shortly. In addition the Department will be consulting this summer on a code aimed at businesses which use solvents. These codes will provide a useful source of advice on all aspects relating to groundwater protection, including site design and development, operation and decommissioning.

Farms

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) mean and (b) median farm (i) incomes and (ii) sizes were in the last five years broken down by region.

Elliot Morley: Mean and median full-time farm incomes and sizes as recorded by the Farm Business Survey in England are given in the table. A regional breakdown is not available due to sample size limitations.
	
		Mean and median full-time farm incomes and sizes in England
		
			   Farm income (£ per farm)  Farm size (European size units)  
			  Mean Median Mean Median 
		
		
			 1996–97 29,830 18,430 75 49 
			 1997–98 13,850 8,050 76 49 
			 1998–99 10,360 5,460 77 53 
			 1999–2000 7,980 5,930 78 51 
			 2000–01 9,890 5,530 80 51 
		
	
	Note:
	Accounting years ending on average in February.

Bovine TB

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many animals have been tested for bovine TB in 2002, broken down by month, in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Elliot Morley: The total number of cattle tested for bovine TB by month in 2002, in the areas specified, is shown in the table.
	
		
			   (a) England (b) Wales (c) Hereford and Worcester 
		
		
			 January 217,232 49,342 18,535 
			 February 317,197 70,750 27,493 
			 March 327,290 67,644 19,613 
			 April 414,503 81,636 30,459 
			 May 209,926 52,869 14,676 
			 June 125,319 31,386 10,012 
			  
			 Total 1,611,467 353,627 120,788 
		
	
	Source:
	DEFRA Vetnet database system as at 16:30 22 June 2002. Figures subject to revision as more data become available.

Contaminated Land

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what financial support is being given to English local authorities to meet the capital costs of dealing with contaminated land.

Michael Meacher: The Contaminated Land Supplementary Credit Approval (SCA) programme has provided support to English local authorities' capital works for 12 years. It assists local authorities to fulfil their responsibilities under the contaminated land regime which was introduced on 1 April 2000, under part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The regime makes local authorities responsible for identifying contaminated land as defined in the Act, and they may also be responsible for its remediation in their capacity as regulators or in carrying some responsibility for the land's condition. The SCA programme assists local authorities to meet these obligations.
	I have agreed the programme for new projects to start this year. The Department has already written to the successful authorities notifying them of the allocations which have been made for these new projects, and in respect of continuing commitments for projects approved in previous years.
	Some bids are still being discussed with the authorities concerned, and there may be further allocations in respect of these and any further bids received later this year.
	The following table sets out the allocations which have been made so far this current financial year.
	
		
			 Local authority Number of sites Allocation for each authority (£) 
		
		
			 Barnsley MBC 1 4,000 
			 Bexley LB 1 50,000 
			 Bristol City 2 216,000 
			 Calderdale MBC 2 720,000 
			 Cherwell DC 1 35,000 
			 Cheshire CC 2 150,000 
			 Chorley BC 1 13,500 
			 Darlington BC 1 13,907 
			 Devon CC 7 650,065 
			 Durham CC 5 76,500 
			 Ellesmere Port and Neston BC 1 30,500 
			 Gateshead MBC 1 246,000 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham LB 1 7,851 
			 Newcastle City 3 779,935 
			 Newham LB 1 30,219 
			 Northamptonshire CC 7 344,983 
			 North Lincolnshire C 1 830,000 
			 Oldham MBC 1 9,496 
			 Plymouth City 1 4,275 
			 Poole B 2 60,000 
			 Portsmouth City 1 19,500 
			 Rotherham MBC 3 99,000 
			 Sandwell MBC 2 7,722 
			 Solihull MBC 1 193,000 
			 Southampton City 2 4,200 
			 Stoke-on-Trent City 1 12,000 
			 Thanet DC 1 2,900 
			 Warrington BC 1 126,015 
			 Warwickshire CC 1 23,000 
			 West Sussex CC 1 1,143,304

Sustainable Development

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Government will publish their Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate.

Michael Meacher: I am pleased to announce that, from today, the first three parts of the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate are publicly available on the Government's Sustainable Development website. Copies of the website on floppy disk have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	Part A of the Framework sets out the overarching commitments to which all Departments have signed up, and outlines the means by which progress towards these targets will be monitored and reported. It also sets a new target for Environmental Management Systems to be rolled out across the Estate. Parts B and C contain specific targets and guidance in the areas of Travel and Water consumption.
	It is planned that the remaining parts of the Framework—covering Waste, Energy, Procurement, Estates Management, Biodiversity, and Social Impacts—will be rolled out over the coming year.
	The online publication of the Framework is designed to facilitate the provision of the most up-to-date guidance, and examples of best practice, in relation to targets to all those involved in management of the Government Estate.

Sustainable Development

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Government will publish its response to the Environmental Audit Committee's third report of Session 2001–02, "UK Preparation for the World Summit on Sustainable Development".

Margaret Beckett: I am pleased to announce that I have today, laid in the Libraries of both Houses, copies of the Government's response to the Environmental Audit Committee's third report of the 2001–2002 Session, "UK Preparation for the World Summit on Sustainable Development".
	The Government's response sets our continued commitment to the achievement and promotion of sustainable development both internationally and at home. We have continued to play a significant role in preparations for the World summit on sustainable development taking place in Johannesburg between 26 August and 4 September 2002.

Sheep

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of (a) the number of sheep and (b) the proportion of the national flock which were born before the imposition of the ban on feeding animal protein to ruminants and are still alive.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 1 July 2002
	Pursuant to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 8 July 2002, Official Report, column 695W. My answer referred to an estimate that the number of sheep still alive which were born before 1 August 1996 is less than 500, representing approximately three per cent. of the UK national flock. This is incorrect. The number of sheep still alive which were born before 1 August 1996 is 500,000, representing approximately three per cent. of the national flock of around 17 million breeding sheep. The rest of the answer remains correct.

Foxhunting

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what volume of correspondence she has received on the consultation on the future of foxhunting; and how many of those were in favour of the continuation of the sport.

Alun Michael: Over 7,000 communications were received following my statement to the House on 21 March. The majority were pro-hunting and came in response to a pro-hunt campaign. These have to be balanced against a smaller number of anti-hunting representation received immediately prior to the statement. We have also received many contributions providing evidence and referring to practical experience from a variety of viewpoints.

EU Directives

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the EU directives and regulations that have been implemented through her Department in 2002; and what was the cost of each to public funds.

Elliot Morley: In answer to the first part of the question the information is in the tables. The first table shows all EC directives transposed in the whole of the UK and notified in 2002, for which DEFRA took the lead. The second table shows Council regulations agreed in 2002 for which DEFRA took the lead. Regulations have a direct effect in the laws of member states and do not usually require Governments to take action to implement them. The table does not show Commission regulations. Details of all regulations and directives agreed can be found on the Eur-Lex database available on the European Union's website.
	The Department does not hold information in the form requested in the second part of the question. This information could be assembled only at disproportionate cost.
	
		EC directives transposed in the whole of the UK and notified in 2002 for which DEFRA took the lead
		
			 Directive number Directive name 
		
		
			 2002/8/EC Minimum conditions for examining vegetables and agricultural varieties 
			 2001/109/EC Statistical surveys to be carried out by member states to determine potential of certain species of fruit trees 
			 2001/57/EC Fixing of maximum levels of pesticide residues 
			 2001/49/EC Placing of plant protection products on the market 
			 2001/48/EC Fixing of maximum levels of pesticide residues 
			 2001/47/EC Placing of plant protection products on the market 
			 2001/39/EC Fixing of maximum levels of pesticide residues 
			 2001/36/EC Placing of plant protection products on the market 
			 2001/35/EC Fixing of maximum levels of pesticide residues 
			 2001/33/EC Organisms harmful to plants 
			 2001/32/EC Recognising protected zones exposed to particular plant health risks 
			 2001/28/EC Placing of plant protection products on the market 
			 2001/21/EC Placing of plant protection products on the market 
			 2000/82/EC Fixing of maximum levels of pesticide residues 
			 2000/81/EC Fixing of maximum levels of pesticide residues 
			 2000/80/EC Placing of plant protection products on the market 
			 2000/58/EC Fixing of maximum levels of pesticide residues 
			 2000/57/EC Fixing of maximum levels of pesticide residues 
			
			 2000/48/EC Fixing of maximum levels of pesticide residues 
			 2000/42/EC Fixing of maximum levels of pesticide residues 
			 2000/37/EC Veterinary medicinal products 
			 2000/27/EC Control of fish diseases 
			 2000/24/EC Fixing of maximum levels of pesticide residues 
			 2000/20/EC Animal health problems affecting intra-community trade in bovine animals 
			 1999/71/EC Fixing of maximum levels in pesticide residues 
			 1999/32/EC Sulphur content of certain liquid fuels 
			 1999/54/EC Marketing of cereal seed 
			 1999/8/EC Marketing of cereal seed 
			 1998/96/EC Unofficial field inspections 
			 1998/95/EC Genetically modified plant varieties 
		
	
	
		Council regulations agreed in 2002 for which DEFRA took the lead
		
			 Regulation number Regulation title 
		
		
			 120/2002 Amending Regulation (EC) No. 2793/1999 as regards the adjustment of the tariff quota for wine. 
			 154/2002 Amending Regulation (EEC) No. 2358/71 on the Common organisation of the market in seeds and fixing the aid granted in the seeds sector for the 2002–03 and 2003–04 marketing year. 
			 179/2002 Amending Regulation (EC) No. 2792/1999 laying down the detailed rules and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector. 
			 249/2002 On the conclusion of the Protocol establishing the fishing opportunities and the compensation provided for in the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau on fishing off the coast of Guinea-Bissau for the period from 16 June 2001 to 15 June 2006. 
			 254/2002 Establishing measures to be applicable in 2002 for the recovery of the stock of cod in the Irish sea (ICES Division VIIa). 
			 284/2002 A proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) renewing for 2001 the measures laid down in Regulation (EC) No. 1416/95 establishing certain concessions in the form of Community tariff quotas in 1995 for certain processed agricultural products originating in Norway. 
			 301/2002 On the conclusion of the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Cape Verde on fishing off the coast of Cape Verde for the period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2004. 
			 322/2002 Amending Regulation (EC) No. 772/1999 imposing definitive anti-dumping and countervailing duties on imports of farmed Atlantic salmon originating in Norway. 
			 442/2002 Amending Regulation (EEC) No. 2019/93 introducing specific measures for the smaller Aegean Islands concerning certain agricultural products. Covering aids for the maintenance of olive groves, other products and farming activities. 
			 545/2002 Extending the financing of quality and marketing improvement plans for certain nuts and locust beans approved under Title IIa of Regulation (EEC) No. 1035/72 and providing for a specific aid for hazelnuts. 
			 546/2002 Fixing the premiums and guarantee thresholds for leaf tobacco by variety group and member state for the 2002, 2003 and 2004 harvests and amending Regulation (EEC) No. 2075/92. 
			 579/2002 Amending Council Regulation (EC) No. 1587/98 of 17 July 1998 introducing a scheme to compensate for the additional costs incurred in the marketing of certain fishery products from Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands and the French departments of Guyana and Reunion as a result of those regions remoteness. 
			 580/2002 On the conclusion of the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Agreement between the European Community and the Gabonese Republic on fishing off the coast of Gabon for the period 3 December 2001 to 2 December 2005. 
			 962/2002 Amending Regulation EC No. 1868/94 establishing a quota production of potato starch. 
			 1149/2002 Opening an autonomous quota for imports of high quality beef (Paraguay). 
			 1150/2002 Opening an autonomous quota for imports of high quality beef (Argentina).

Beef Exports

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the level of UK beef exports was in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 11 July 2002
	The following table shows the volume and value of UK exports of beef and beef products between 1997 and 2001.
	
		
			   Beef  Beef product  
			 Year Tonnes £ thousand Tonnes £ thousand 
		
		
			 1997 6,061 15,104 4,040 6,626 
			 1998 4,884 12,157 7,746 6,110 
			 1999 5,647 19,720 3,708 5,598 
			 2000 5,387 20,983 3,884 6,070 
			 2001 5,202 18,175 2,962 5,614 
		
	
	Source:
	HM Customs and Excise
	Data prepared by Statistics (Commodities & Food) Accounts and Trade, ESD, DEFRA

Frozen Chicken Imports

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many tons of imported frozen chicken breasts were consumed in the UK in the past year.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 11 July 2002
	Information on the consumption of frozen chicken breasts in the UK is not available. The following table shows the total volume of UK imports of; frozen chicken breasts (with bone-in) and frozen cuts(boneless)in 2001.
	
		
			  Tonnes 
		
		
			 Product 2001 
			 Frozen chicken cuts, (boneless)(4) 103,902 
			 Frozen chicken cuts, breasts (bone-in) 15,373 
			 Grant total 119,275 
		
	
	(4) Includes boneless chicken breasts and other boneless chicken cuts
	Source:
	HM Customs and Excise
	Data prepared by statistics (Commodities & Food) Accounts and Trade, ESD, DEFRA

Scottish White Fish Producers Association

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Fisheries Minister next intends to meet the Scottish White Fish Producers Association.

Elliot Morley: I am always ready to meet representative organisations where there is business which would justify this. I am currently considering a response to a letter of 28 June from the Scottish White Fish Producers Organisation about the deep water fishery.

Infectious Diseases

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her proposed action following the Royal Society's report into infectious diseases in livestock.

Elliot Morley: I refer my hon. Friend to the statement on the foot and mouth inquiries, given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, to the House, on 22 July 2002, Official Report, column 669.

Countryside and Rights of Way Act

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which regulations under Part I of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 need to be in force before the Act can be implemented in any region before 2005.

Alun Michael: Regulations on the following must be put in place before land shown on maps of open country and registered common land may be opened up for access under Part I of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000:
	(a) mapping of access land and consultation on draft maps (section 11);
	(b) the issue of provisional maps, appeals against such maps, and the issue of conclusive maps (section 11);
	(c) the exclusion or restriction of access under Chapter 11, including appeals (section 32);
	(d) the exclusion of access in emergencies (section 31);
	(e) appeals relating to notices in respect of means of access (section 38);
	(f) references to public places in existing enactments (Section 42).
	Regulations under (a) came into force on 1 November 2001. Regulations under (b) will come into force on 29 July 2002. We have completed consultations on (c) and, subject to the outcome of consultations on the remaining regulations, expect all of them to be in force by the end of 2003.

Free Range Poultry Units

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received concerning planning applications for the erection of mobile and static free range poultry units.

Elliot Morley: Producer interests wish to see a positive approach taken by local planning authorities when planning permission is needed for new or enlarged poultry units. Other interests are concerned about the environmental effects of some proposals. Government planning policies for local authorities make clear that an efficient and competitive agricultural industry is very important. In particular, local authorities are encouraged in general to support proposals relating to the requirements of new environmental, hygiene and welfare legislation.
	DEFRA contributes to both national and regional planning and, through Government offices, provides technical advice to local authorities to help achieve sustainable development. This includes advice on giving farmers flexibility to adapt to changing animal welfare legislation and market conditions. In doing so, local authorities are enabled to take due account of these aspects as part of considering all economic, environmental and social issues when preparing their local development plans and assessing individual planning applications.

Air Conditioning

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 25 March 2002, Official Report, column 717W, on air conditioning, if she will make a statement on the results of the monitoring of the Building Research Establishment's Environmental Assessment; and what progress has been made in BREEAM to discourage the procurement of refrigerants with a high global warming potential.

Brian Wilson: I have been asked to reply.
	BREEAM is a commercial product of the Building Research Establishment and its methodology is revised annually. I understand that the current revision, which is due to be applied for assessments from September 2002 onwards, is likely to address the global warming potential of refrigerants.

Sausages

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what scientific evidence she has collated that supports the proposed ban on the use of sheep's intestines in the manufacture of sausages.

Hazel Blears: I have been asked to reply.
	I am advised by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) that the basis of their recommendation to the European Commission that sheep intestine be banned as specified risk material (SRM) is outlined in a report by a core group of stakeholders endorsed by the Board of the FSA on 13 June 2002. The risk assessments taken into account in this report indicate that the proposed ban, added to the current controls, could increase the reduction in potential infectivity entering the food chain to up to two-thirds if BSE were found in sheep. Current precautionary SRM measures are estimated to reduce risk by very approximately one-third. The FSA believes the proposed measure has to be considered in the context of the lives that might be saved from variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (vCJD) if BSE were present in sheep.
	A copy of the report can be found on the FSA's website www.food.gov.uk

Sausages

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of the potential presence of BSE in beef protein collagen used in the manufacture of sausages.

Hazel Blears: I have been asked to reply.
	The Food Standards Agency have advised me that the European Commission Scientific Committee gave an opinion on safety with respect to TSEs (transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, including BSE) and the risks of collagen produced from ruminant hides at its meeting of 10–11 May 2001. They concluded that on the basis of current knowledge the parts of ruminant hides used for the production of collagen do not present a risk with regard to TSEs, provided contamination with potentially infected material is avoided. It is a regulatory requirement that food and food products (including collagen) must not be derived from BSE cases or suspected cases, or from specified risk material.

Chickens

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what checks are made for the presence of nitrofurans and chloramphenicol in chicken imported into the United Kingdom (a) directly from non-EU countries and (b) from a third country via another EU member state.

Hazel Blears: I have been asked to reply.
	Chloramphenicol and nitrofurans are veterinary medicines no longer permitted in the European Union for use in food producing animals and therefore residues of these chemicals should not be present in food.
	Imports of products of animal origin for human consumption such as poultry meat to the United Kingdom from third countries are subject to harmonised EU import controls and must enter the EU through designated border inspection posts (BIP). Where the official veterinary surgeons at the BIPs have reason to suspect that poultry meat being imported to the UK direct from a third country may be contaminated with chloramphenicol or nitrofurans, they may take samples of the product for testing.
	Imports of poultry meat from third countries to other EU member states must enter the EU through designated BIP where they may be subject to checks for chloramphenicol and nitrofurans. Once a food product is in free circulation within the EU it is not subject to routine checks at points of entry to the UK under EU single market requirements.
	In response to concerns that poultry meat from South East Asia may be contaminated by illegal residues of veterinary medicines, the Food Standards Agency initiated a retail survey. As a consequence of the publication of these results and others from the Netherlands, an EU Commission Decision has recently required sampling and testing of poultry meat coming from Thailand. This requirement to sample and test applies to all EU member states.
	The veterinary medicines directorate also undertakes testing of imported poultry meat as part of its non-statutory surveillance programme. In 2001, 50 samples of raw chicken were tested for the presence of chloramphenicol. No residues above the reporting limit were detected.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Consultations

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in what format her Department has published the results of its 2001 written consultations.

Kim Howells: The following table indicates in what format the Department published the results of all its 2001 written consultations:
	
		
			  Title Format that results were published 
		
		
			 National Gallery/National Portrait Gallery Review: stage one consultation Summary of the views of consultees was published on the Department website and copies were also placed in the libraries of both Houses. 
			 National Heritage Memorial Fund Review: stage one consultation Results not yet published. 
			 Report of the Gambling Review Body Results of the consultation were published in A safe bet for success (Cm 5397). In addition, copies of all the substantive responses (unless respondents requested otherwise) were placed in the libraries of both Houses. 
			 National Museum of Science & Industry Review: stage one consultation Summary of the views of consultees was published on the Department website and copies were also placed in the libraries of both Houses. 
			 Geffrye Museum/Horniman Museum/Museum of London Review: stage one consultation All responses (unless respondents requested otherwise) and a summary of the views of consultees were published on the Department website and placed in the libraries of both Houses. 
			 Consultation on the draft Digital Television Action Plan Responses to the consultation were confidential but they informed the content of a revised Digital Television Action Plan, which was published on 20 December 2001. 
			 English Heritage Review: stage one consultation Summary of the views of consultees was published on the Department website. 
			 Public Lending Right. Quinquennial Performance Review: Consultation Paper Results not yet published. 
			 Quinquennial Review on the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art Results not yet published. 
			 National Maritime Museum Quinquennial Performance Review Results not yet published. 
			 Consultation on Media Ownership Rules All responses (unless respondents requested otherwise) and a summary of responses were published on the Department website. 
			
			 Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester: Quinquennial Performance Review Results not yet published. 
			 Spectrum Planning Consultation All responses (unless respondents requested otherwise) were published on the joint DCMS/DTI digital television website. 
			 Council of Europe—Convention on the Protection of Audiovisual Heritage Results not yet published.

Religious Broadcasting

Donald Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether in the course of her consultations on the draft Communications Bill she plans to meet representatives from the Christian broadcasting industry to discuss the statutory ban on religious organisations holding several categories of broadcasting licence.

Kim Howells: I met representatives from the Centre for Justice and Liberty on 21 March 2002 and discussed a range of issues concerning religious organisations and broadcasting licensing.

Religious Broadcasting

Mark Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if it is her policy to seek to regulate religious broadcasting by (a) placing limits on ownership, (b) regulation and (c) legislation.

Kim Howells: Yes. We have set out our position on religious broadcasting in the document "The draft Communications Bill—The Policy".

Libraries

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which libraries have (a) opened and (b) reopened since 1997; and what sources of public funding are available to them.

Kim Howells: The number of library openings and re-openings is not held centrally. However, the total number of libraries in England between 1996–97 and 2000–01 was:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1996–97 3,083 
			 1997–98 3,053 
			 1998–99 3,037 
			 1999–2000 3,031 
			 2000–01 3,032 
		
	
	The figures in the table reflect only branch and central libraries open for at least 10 hours a week. They do not include static libraries open for less than that duration, mobile libraries or special services provided by English library authorities to senior citizens' homes and others in sheltered housing schemes. In 2000–01 the figures for these two types of provision were, respectively: 130 static libraries open for less than 10 hours, 465 mobiles and 16,819 outlets in institutions.
	Core funding for public libraries is provided through the Environmental Protection and Cultural Services block.
	It is for local authorities to decide how much of their EPCS funding to allocate to their libraries in line with their statutory duty to provide library services that are comprehensive and efficient.Core funding for public libraries is provided through the Environmental Protection and Cultural Services block.
	It is for local authorities to decide how much of their EPCS funding to allocate to their libraries in line with their statutory duty to provide library services that are comprehensive and efficient.

National Foundation of Youth Music

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment has been made of the success of the National Foundation of Youth Music in increasing the participation of young people from low-income families in its activities.

Kim Howells: Youth Music has established 19 Youth Music Action Zones in the most deprived areas of the country, and its programmes have already reached over 270,000 young people.
	All Youth Music programmes are evaluated. Youth Music's ongoing programme of Youth Music Action Zones (YMAZ) began in August 2000 and an interim evaluation of each of the zones was carried out from December 2001 to April 2002.

Website

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport for how long she retains documents referred to in parliamentary answers on his Department's website.

Kim Howells: My Department will seek to retain any document held on my Department's website referred to in a parliamentary answer for at least the life of that Parliament and while the document remains valid.

Website

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether it is her policy to ensure that documents referred to in parliamentary answers are available via her Department's website.

Kim Howells: My Department makes all publications available through the Department's website. Other documents, if referred to in a parliamentary answer, may be published on the website if it is felt relevant and useful to do so.

Tourism

Virginia Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she will take to encourage people to holiday in the United Kingdom.

Kim Howells: This year the Government are spending £72 million on tourism, of which £54 million is available to the British Tourist Authority (BTA). The BTA promotes Britain as a tourist destination in 27 countries and is currently running the 'Only in Britain, Only in 2002' campaign in our seven biggest overseas markets with television, radio and press advertising.
	On 13 May we announced that we will be working with the English Tourism Council to improve the marketing within the UK of England as a tourist destination.

BBC

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what representations she has received regarding the BBC's digital curriculum proposition; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  when she expects to make a decision on the BBC's digital curriculum proposition; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is considering the digital curriculum proposal in accordance with the Department's published guidelines on proposed new BBC public services. The proposal has been subject to a period of public consultation which closed on 22 July and a substantial number of comments have been received. My right hon. Friend will now assess the response to the consultation and reach a decision as soon as possible.

Wembley Stadium

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will publish the Government's response to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee's sixth report entitled "Wembley National Stadium Project: Into Injury Time".

Tessa Jowell: I am today publishing the Government's response to the Select Committee's sixth report entitled "Wembley National Stadium Project: Into Injury Time". The response is available on the DCMS website (www.culture.gov.uk) and copies of the response have been laid before Parliament and deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.

Scottish Executive

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many formal and official inter-ministerial meetings her Department has held with the Scottish Executive since May 1999, broken down by (a) Scottish Executive department, (b) subject and (c) date.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State and the Minister for Sport regularly meet the Scottish Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport at the Sports Cabinet meetings. These were held on:
	6 October 1999;
	6 October 2000;
	16 February 2001;
	31 October 2001;
	18 June 2002.
	My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for the Arts met with the Scottish Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport on 25 April 2002 to discuss Design Champion issues.
	In addition Ministers in DCMS and the Scottish Executive are in regular contact on policy issues by telephone, e-mail and letter.

Free Television Licences

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many households are entitled to free television licences in Taunton; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: TV Licensing, which administers the free television licence scheme for the BBC as Licensing Authority, is not able to provide geographical breakdowns of the number of free licences issued. However, estimates based on the 1991 Census indicate that there were approximately 8,500 people aged 75 or over in the Taunton constituency.

Science and Discovery Centres

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to assist the funding of science and discovery centres; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Government have currently no plans to assist the funding of science and discovery centres. The Millennium Commission, together with the Wellcome Trust and the Wolfson Foundation has on Monday 22 July launched a £33 million fund for science centres and museums to allow them to renew or replace high quality science, education and technology exhibitions.

"A Force for Our Future"

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made on implementing the recommendations contained in the Government's statement on the historic environment: A Force for Our Future.

Kim Howells: Since A Force for Our Future was published in December 2001 the following has been achieved:
	December
	The Listed Places of Worship Grant scheme was launched.
	March
	Paradise Preserved, a guide to local authorities and cemetery managers on the care of the built and natural history of cemeteries was published.
	April
	The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment put in place arrangements for providing advice on all post-war listing proposals.
	May
	The Heritage Lottery Fund's Strategic Plan for 2002–07, agreed with the DCMS, DEFRA and then DTLR was published. Entitled Broadening the Horizons of Heritage it sets out proposals, among other things, to ensure that everyone can learn about, have access to and enjoy their heritage.
	The Quinquennial Review of English Heritage was completed with the full involvement of the DTLR (now OPDM), DEFRA, HMT and DfES. English Heritage are taking forward the recommendations as part of their modernisation programme;
	The review of PPG 15 'Planning and the Historic Environment' and PPG16 'Archaeology and Planning' commenced with full involvement from the sector.
	Heritage Link, an umbrella organisation for the voluntary organisations working in the sector was established. It will be formally launched in December.
	The Construction Industry Training Board set up a heritage working group with full participation of the Building Skills Action Group and English Heritage to coordinate the promotion of heritage skills. English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund are promoting training in conservation craft skills by making it a requirement that all projects over £1 million produce a Training Plan, and by supporting training, including Modern Apprenticeships, as part of wider projects. HLF also support stand-alone projects for training volunteers in heritage skills.
	June
	The consultation document People and Places: a draft social inclusion policy for the built and historic environment, was launched by the Secretary of State, during Architecture Week.
	July
	The National Heritage Act 2002 Act came into force. This allows English Heritage to operate in overseas countries and to become involved in underwater archaeology in territorial waters adjacent to England. A Statutory Instrument specifying the boundaries of English territorial waters is being drafted in consultation with he Devolved Administrations and other relevant bodies.
	The Statutory Order extending the definition of Treasure was laid before Parliament in July. It comes into force in January 2003 subject to its successful passage through both Houses.
	English Heritage hosted a workshop with key players in the sector to consider how to take forward the consultation on how to broaden access to the historic environment. This was informed by the National Trust leaflet "Making History Matter".
	English Heritage published a consultation document Making the Most of our Civic Heritage—some guiding principles for decision makers—at the Local Government Association Conference in June.
	Sustainable Communities: Delivering through Planning, sets out the Government's plans for transforming the planning system.
	DEFRA have agreed that English Heritage become a distributor for the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund, alongside the Countryside Agency and English Nature. Together they will disburse over £30 million to mitigate the impact of aggregates extraction.
	The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment has distributed Our Street: Learning to See and From One Street to Another to every school in the UK.
	This is only the beginning of the process. We and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are working closely with the sector to take this forward. We will publish a full progress report in December.

Playing Fields

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the Playing Fields Monitoring Group will be publishing statistical information concerning playing fields.

Tessa Jowell: The Playing Fields Monitoring Group has today published for the first time statistics which clearly show that Government policy is already protecting playing fields that schools and local communities need. The statistics are available from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's website at: www.culture.gov.uk/sport/
	Out of 875 planning applications to change the use of playing fields referred to Sport England in 2000–01, only 39 which were deemed to represent a net detriment to sport were approved. Indeed, 92 per cent. of the 1,765 playing field planning applications referred to Sport England over the last two years were either not detrimental to sport or did not proceed—ensuring that sport is the winner in the vast majority of cases.
	This Government is committed to the protection of playing fields and will continue to look closely at how current protective measures are working as well as publishing figures through the DCMS Playing Fields Monitoring Group. I should like to pay tribute to the assistance that the Central Council of Physical Recreation and the National Playing Fields Association are providing to the work of the Group.

Sport Expenditure

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the Government's expenditure plans are for sport following the 2002 Spending Review.

Tessa Jowell: Increasing opportunities for all to participate is key to the Government's strategy for sport. As a result of the Spending Review, the Government will channel £6 million into talent scholarships up to 2005–06. When combined with funding from other sources, these will provide quality-assured support to 2,000 young people in higher education.
	The Youth Sports Trust has already produced web-based guidance for local coordinators and teachers. Now, for the first time, they have a clear framework for responding to the needs of talented young sportspeople of different ages and abilities. Next year, we will build on those foundations. We will expand the website into a one-stop shop for teachers, coaches, mentors and parents; develop a national support network based around specialist sports colleges; introduce a full programme of summer schools and performance camps for different ages and abilities; and ensure a much stronger emphasis on sporting talent within all parts of our national strategy for gifted and talented education. For the first time, teachers and coaches will be working together to ensure that all of our talented young sportsmen and women reach their full potential while continuing to receive a broad and balanced education.
	As a final rung of the talent development ladder, over £25 million over the next three years will enable the key recommendations of the Coaching Task Force to be implemented. This investment will create 3,000 full-time, qualified Community Coaches to help develop sports skills across the country by 2006, with particular emphasis on improving opportunities for those in areas of deprivation.
	For the first time, nationally-recognised qualifications will be established to give coaches a professional career pathway, and we will create new opportunities to enable skilled coaches in a number of disciplines to be deployed across the country.
	There will also be support for governing bodies of sport to help them make the most of our new coaching initiatives. This will ensure that new coaches work in partnership at local level with clubs, schools and other regional organisations supporting sport.
	Complementing this, £ 4 million of funding for the Step into Sport programme will enable more than 60,000 young people to achieve awards for leading sport. By developing a sense of teamwork, responsibility and self-esteem while serving their schools and communities, the young sport leaders of today will form the volunteer and coaching base of our sporting future.
	These and other programmes stand to benefit more from the extensive reform of Sport England that is now under way. I expect substantial savings to be made and these resources to be directed into our priority programmes for sport.
	Finally, the Government is committed to ensure that funding of the World-Class Performance programme in the four years leading up to the Athens Olympics remains as high as in the run-up to Sydney, our most successful Olympics since London in 1920.

Criminal Records Checks

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will share information with other countries about UK citizens who have been convicted of offences against children within sport.

Hilary Benn: I have been asked to reply.
	If a person is convicted of a relevant sex offence against a child they become subject to the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Act 1997.
	New provisions in the Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000 (including regulations made under the power contained therein) provide that if an offender subject to the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 leaves the United Kingdom for eight days or longer, he must notify the police at least 24 hours prior to his departure: of his date of departure; the country to which he is travelling; the identity of the carrier he intends to use; his point of arrival in the country; details of his first night's accommodation; if he intends to return to the United Kingdom; and if so, the date of his return and point of arrival.
	On such a notification, the police will assess the level of risk the offender poses and then make a decision over whether to pass on this information to the authorities of the destination country or not.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Employment Relations Act

Ben Chapman: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, when he expects an announcement to be made about granting the clergy the rights and privileges given to workers under the Employment Relations Act 1999.

Stuart Bell: The Church of England is currently considering issues raised by the Department of Trade and Industry's "Discussion Document on Employment Status in Relation to Employment Rights". It will make a formal response by 11 December.

CABINET OFFICE

Central Office of Information

Laura Moffatt: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he expects to publish the Central Office of Information's annual report and accounts 2001–02.

Douglas Alexander: I have today laid the COI annual report and accounts 2001–02 before Parliament, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Public Appointments

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what rules govern appointments to non-departmental public bodies; and what have been the (a) ethnic, (b) gender and (c) party breakdown of these appointments in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002.

Douglas Alexander: Appointments to non-departmental public bodies made by Ministers are subject to the Commissioner for Public Appointments' code of practice, and regulated accordingly. Appointments to tribunals follow the code of practice as best practice, but are not regulated by the Commissioner. It is Government policy that appointments to non-departmental public bodies, not made by Ministers, also follow the code as best practice.
	The Commissioner for Public Appointments issued the seventh annual report on 17 July 2002. Included in this publication are tables showing details of gender, ethnicity, disability, and political activity of those appointed for regulated appointments made in the year ending 31 March 2002, and a comparative set of figures for the previous five years. Additionally, the Cabinet Office's annual publication, "Public Bodies", includes details of diversity in public appointments as a cumulative total rather than for those appointments made in any one year. "Public Bodies 2002" will be published shortly.

Public Consultations

Andrew Turner: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what public consultations have been commenced by his Department since 1 April; and what the (a) closing date and (b) website address of each were.

Douglas Alexander: The following formal national public consultations, which are subject to the Code of Practice on Written Consultation, have been commenced by the Cabinet Office since 1 April 2002:
	"In the Service of Democracy". A consultation paper on a policy for electronic democracy, July 2002. The closing date for the consultation is 31 October 2002. The web address for the consultation document is www.edemocracy.gov.uk
	"Privacy and Data-sharing: the Way Forward for Public Services", published by the Cabinet Office's Performance and Innovation Unit on 11 April 2002. The report included three recommendations that were raised for consultation. The consultation exercise is being managed by the Lord Chancellor's Department. The consultation period ended on 12 July. The web address for the consultation document is www.lcd.gov.uk/ foi/sharing/index.htm

Legal and Regulatory Framework for Charities

Michael Jabez Foster: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when the Strategy Unit Review of the Legal and Regulatory Framework for Charities in the not- for-profit sector will be published.

Douglas Alexander: The Strategy Unit (formerly Performance and Innovation Unit) review of the legal and regulatory framework for charities and the not-for-profit sector will be published in September.

EU Legislation

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what mechanism there is to ensure Government Departments produce explanatory memoranda on proposed EU legislation in time for proper consideration by the European Scrutiny Committee.

Douglas Alexander: The Government is committed to the effective scrutiny by Parliament of proposed EU legislation and has given an undertaking that Ministers will not agree to proposals in the Council of Ministers until scrutiny by Parliament has been completed. This undertaking is the cornerstone of the scrutiny process and is embodied in a Resolution of the House of Commons dated 17 November 1998.
	The Government is committed to depositing proposals for primary EU legislation in Parliament within 48 hours of receipt by the Government, and to the provision of an Explanatory Memorandum (EM) within 10 working days of an EU document's deposit in Parliament, wherever practicable.
	The Cabinet Office is responsible centrally for the maintenance of scrutiny procedures, working closely with Departments and the staff of the European Scrutiny Committee. Where EMs cannot be submitted quickly, the Cabinet Office ensures that the lead Department provides the European Scrutiny Committee with an explanation for any delay together with an assessment of the impact on the opportunity for consideration by the Committee. The Cabinet Office also liaises with Departments to ensure Departments plan ahead effectively to avoid occasions when late submission of an EM will cause difficulties for the proper consideration of issues by the European Scrutiny Committee.

Politics (Young People)

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent meetings he has had regarding young people's involvement in the political process; and what the outcomes of those meetings were.

John Denham: I have been asked to reply.
	I have held a number of meetings with young people, members of the UK Youth Parliament, hon. Members, and the media, relating to the re-engagement of young people in democracy and voting. Those discussions have supported the recommendations of the YVote?/YNot? project published on 3 July.

Politics (Young People)

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what (a) legislation is in place and (b) programmes are being funded that encourage young people's involvement in the political process.

John Denham: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government have taken several legislative steps in recent years to modernise and simplify electoral law and processes so that they are more relevant to modern lifestyles, including those lived by young people. These measures should make access to the process more flexible and make it easier both to register to vote and to cast a ballot. The Government, with the help of others such as the Electoral Commission, will continue to consider carefully any suggestions for changes that will lead to increased involvement of the young in the electoral process.
	The National Curriculum Order for Citizenship laid before Parliament on 23 June 2000 sets out the statutory requirements for citizenship education. The subject will be part of the national curriculum for secondary schools from this August. It will consist of three main strands: political literacy, social and moral responsibility and community involvement. These will help young people to develop the skills and confidence they need to engage in active citizenship and understand their role in the political process.
	The Children and Young People's Unit will continue to work with a range of organisations to support the action recommended in the YVote?/YNot? project. The independent Electoral Commission, with whom the Children and Young People's Unit has been working closely, has a statutory responsibility for raising public awareness of the electoral process and democratic systems, and has run focused advertising campaigns aimed at encouraging higher levels of voter participation within specific communities, including young people. The commission intends to continue to run bi-annual advertising campaigns, linked to key dates in the electoral calendar, including local and national elections and the annual registration canvass. The commission will also be launching later this year a 'New Initiatives Fund' which will provide grant funding to individuals and organisations outside government to test innovative ideas aimed at increasing participation in elections by young people and others.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Publications Scheme

Michael Fabricant: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make a statement about the House's publications scheme under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Archy Kirkwood: The Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires any public authority, including this House, to develop and implement a publication scheme setting out details of the classes of information which it publishes or intends to publish. I am pleased to announce that the House of Commons scheme has now been approved by the Information Commissioner and will be available on the parliamentary website at www.parliament.uk from Wednesday 24 July. Paper copies are available to hon. Members in the Library and to any member of the public on request from the House of Commons Information Office.

House of Commons Staff

Barry Sheerman: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what percentage of House of Commons staff are (a) full-time employees and (b) agency staff provided by outside contractors.

Archy Kirkwood: At 30 June 2002, the House employed 1,373 full-time staff and 90 agency staff, out of a total work force of 1,740 individuals. Thus full-time staff represent 79 per cent. of the total, and agency staff represent 5.2 per cent.

Edward Heath Statue

Tony Banks: To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what arrangements have been made for re-siting the bust of the right hon. Sir Edward Heath by Martin Jennings within the Palace of Westminster.

Archy Kirkwood: I have been asked to reply.
	Hon. Members will wish to know that Mr. Speaker has amended the "10-year rule", governing the display of representations of politicians in the main building of the Palace. A portrait, bust or statue of a politician other than a Prime Minister may be displayed once 10 years have passed after their death. A portrait, bust or statue of a former Prime Minister may now be displayed either once five years have passed after their death, or when three Parliaments have elapsed after they have resigned the office of Prime Minister (provided they are no longer Members of the House and that a minimum of 12 years has elapsed), whichever of these events comes first. There remain no restrictions on the siting of representations of living politicians in the outbuildings of the Palace.
	Accordingly the bust of Sir Edward Heath may now be displayed in the main building of the Palace. It is the intention that it should be sited in Members' Lobby from later this year.

PRIVY COUNCIL

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the President of the Council what the (a) dates, (b) location and (c) sources were of attributable (i) articles, interviews or contributions for the media, books or other journals and (ii) speeches or presentations made in the public domain, by departmental special advisers since March 2001; who in his Department authorised the activity; and on what date this activity was recorded with the departmental Head of Information.

Robin Cook: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier today by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

Computer Equipment

Vincent Cable: To ask the President of the Council what his policy is for the disposal of computer equipment that has been updated; and if he will make a statement.

Robin Cook: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Member to my answer given on 19 June 2002, Official Report, column 398W.

TREASURY

Value Added

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the gap between value-added per employee in the public and private sectors in the UK.

John Healey: The Office for National Statistics publish data on jobs in the public and private sectors annually in an article in Economic Trends. The latest, which gives data for 2001, appeared in the June 2002 edition of Economic Trends (page 39–52). Value Added by sector of the UK economy is available in the ONS Blue book. The latest Blue book dataset, including statistics for 2001, will be published on 26 July.

Transport Expenditure

Christopher Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will indicate, in respect of the graph entitled UK Transport Spending on page 3 of the leaflet 2002 Spending Review, how much spending in each year is (a) subject to the decisions of devolved Administrations and (b) central Government's own investment.

Paul Boateng: holding answer 19 July 2002
	The information requested is set out in table 8.1 of the Spending Review 2002 White Paper, "Opportunity and Security for All: Investing in an Enterprising Fairer Britain".
	There was a misprint in the table as set out in the White Paper. A corrected version of the table is as follows. The Treasury will be issuing a corrigendum shortly.
	
		Table 8.1: Key figures -- £ million
		
			  2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 
		
		
			 Department for Transport 
			 Resource budget 4,960 7,632 7.749 8,650 
			 Capital budget 2,948 3,369 3,811 3,391 
			 Total departmental expenditure limit(5) 7,661 10,692 11,197 11,640 
			 Near-cash spending in DfT DEL(6) 7,843 10,829 11,333 11,774 
			 UK transport spending (estimated)(7) 11,962 15,347 15,827 16,406 
		
	
	(5) Full resource budgeting basis, net of depreciation.
	(6) Consistent with previous control basis.
	(7) Subject to spending decisions of local authorities and devolved Administrations.

Statistics

Neil Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what proportion of the population in (a) Wigan MBC, (b) the North West Region and (c) England had an income of (i) up to twice, (ii) up to five times and (iii) more than five times the national average in each of the past 10 years;
	(2)  what proportion of the total relevant population were higher rate tax payers in (a) Wigan MBC, (b) the North West Region and (c) England for each of the last 10 years.

Dawn Primarolo: Available estimates are in the tables.
	
		Number of higher rate taxpayers(8) as a percentage of the total population(9) for the respective geographical areas
		
			  Wigan North West(10) England 
		
		
			 1995–96 1.5 2.5 3.8 
			 1996–97 1.7 2.5 3.7 
			 1997–98 1.4 2.5 3.8 
			 1998–99 1.4 2.8 4.2 
			 1999–2000 1.9 3.1 4.4 
		
	
	
		Number of individuals(11) with total income up to twice GB average earnings(12) as a percentage(13) of the total population(9) for the respective geographical areas
		
			  Wigan North West(10) England 
		
		
			 1995–96 99.5 98.6 97.7 
			 1996–97 99.3 98.5 97.7 
			 1997–98 99.3 98.6 97.6 
			 1998–99 99.4 98.4 97.4 
			 1999–2000 99.1 98.3 97.3 
		
	
	
		Number of individuals(11) with total income up to five times GB average earnings(12) as a percentage of the total population(9) for the respective geographical areas
		
			  Wigan North West(10) England 
		
		
			 1995–96 99.9 99.9 99.7 
			 1996–97 99.9 99.8 99.7 
			 1997–98 99.9 99.8 99.6 
			 1998–99 100.0 99.8 99.6 
			 1999–2000 99.9 99.8 99.6 
		
	
	
		Number of individuals(11) with total income over five times GB average earnings(12) as a percentage(13) of the total population(9) for the respective geographical areas
		
			  Wigan North West(10) England 
		
		
			 1995–96 0.1 0.1 0.3 
			 1996–97 0.1 0.2 0.3 
			 1997–98 0.1 0.2 0.4 
			 1998–99 0.0 0.2 0.4 
			 1999–2000 0.1 0.2 0.4 
		
	
	(8) Number of higher rate taxpayers based on the Survey of Personal Incomes.
	(9) Source for population estimates: Official for National Statistics, General Register Office for Scotland, and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.
	(10) Government Office Region of North West.
	(11) Number of individuals based on the Survey of Personal Incomes.
	(12) Average earnings based on the New Earnings Survey.
	(13) Rounded to 1 decimal place.

Statistics

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the annual report of the Statistics Commission.

Ruth Kelly: The 2001–02 annual report of the Statistics commission, which was released on Wednesday 17 July 2002 is a thorough review of the year's developments and details the Commission's progress in achieving its aims as set out in the "Framework for National Statistics".

Statistics

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the independence and quality of national statistics.

Ruth Kelly: The Government's commitment to improving trust and confidence in official statistics was set out in the National Statistics Framework document which became operational in June 2000. Since then the National Statistician has issued a National Statistics Code of Practice for public consultation. This showed widespread support for the Code of Practice and its aim of promoting and demonstrating the independence and quality of National Statistics. The final version of the Code of Practice will be published shortly.

R and D Tax Credit

John McWilliam: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has carried out on the impact of the DTI guidelines on the definition of development for tax purposes on the research and development tax credit in respect of large companies; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The current definition of Research and Development (R&D) in the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry's guidelines is based on UK accounting principles—in SSAP (Statement of Standard Accounting Practice) 13—and on international standards established by the OECD. It was introduced in 2000 and underpins both the R&D tax credit for SMEs, also introduced in 2000, and the new R&D tax credit for large companies, in the current Finance Bill.
	This definition was introduced after extensive consultation. It has only been in force for a short time, and it will not be possible to assess either its impact or that of the credits themselves (which are measures for the long-term) until companies have had a period of stability in which to make use of them. In the meantime, the Inland Revenue, the Treasury and the DTI are working with industry on case studies to clarify the application of the definition.

Energy Efficiency

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to extend the reduced rate of five per cent VAT to all purchases of energy efficiency materials.

John Healey: The existing reduced rate applies to installations by contractors of certain energy-saving materials whose primary purpose is to save energy. European law does not permit a reduced rate for energy-efficient or energy-saving materials sold direct to the public, but the Government has pressed the European Commission to bring forward proposals to allow a reduced rate for energy-saving materials.

Jobs Location

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to increase the number of customs staff employed in Scotland.

John Healey: HM Customs and Excise focuses its resources on areas of greatest risk and keeps its staffing numbers and locations under review to ensure that staff with the necessary skills are in place to support the Department's operational activities.

Jobs Location

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many jobs under the remit of his Department in (a) the core Department, (b) non- departmental public bodies, (c) executive agencies and (d) independent statutory bodies, organisations and bodies financially sponsored by his Department and other such organisations are, located in (i) Scotland, (ii) England, excluding Greater London, (iii) Greater London, (iv) Wales, (v) Northern Ireland and (vi) overseas, broken down by (A) whole-time equivalent jobs and (B) the percentage per individual department, body or organisation.

Ruth Kelly: The numbers of whole time equivalent staff employed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Department are shown in the following table:
	
		Staff in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Department
		
			  Scotland  England excluding Greater London Greater London Wales Northern Ireland Overseas Total Percentage of Chancellors staff 
		
		
			 HM Treasury — — 1,030 — — — 1,030 1.1 
			 (Percentage) — — 100.0 — — — 100.0  
			  
			 Customs and Excise 1,233 14,544 5,735 569 594 — 22,675 23.5 
			 (Percentage) 5.4 64.1 25.3 2.5 2.6 — 100.0  
			  
			 Inland Revenue 6,230 44,880 6,875 3,778 1,421 — 63,184 65.5 
			 (Percentage) 9.9 71.0 10.9 6.0 2.2 — 100.0  
			  
			 ONS — 1,535 941 1,042 — — 3,518 3.6 
			 (Percentage) — 43.6 26.7 29.6 — — 100.0  
			  
			 OGC 9 239 183 — — — 431 0.4 
			 (Percentage) 2.1 55.5 42.5 — — — 100.0  
			  
			 Debt Management Office — — 77 — — — 77 0.1 
			 (Percentage) — — 100.0 — — — 100.0  
			  
			 National Savings and Investments 6 9 111 — — — 126 0.1 
			 (Percentage) 4.8 7.1 88.1 — — — 100.0  
			  
			 Royal Mint — — 2 966 — — 968 1.0 
			 (Percentage) — — 0.2 99.8 — — 100.0  
			  
			 Valuation Office Agency 81 2,812 725 236 — — 3,854 4.0 
			 (Percentage) 2.1 73.0 18.8 6.1 — — 100.0  
			  
			 Government Actuary's Department — 2 96 — — — 98 0.1 
			 (Percentage) — 2.0 98.0 — — — 100.0  
			  
			 Crown Estates 34 230 194 — — — 458 0.5 
			 (Percentage) 7.4 50.2 42.4 — — — 100.0  
			  
			 Statistics Commission — — 10 — — — 10 0.0 
			 (Percentage) — — 100.0 — — — 100.0  
			  
			 Total 7,593 94,251 15,979 6,591 2,015 — 96,429 100.0 
			 (Percentage) 7.9 66.6 16.6 6.8 2.1 — 100.0

Anglo-Scottish Ministerial Meetings

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many formal and official inter-ministerial meetings his Department has held with the Scottish Executive since May 1999, broken down by (a) Scottish Executive Department, (b) subject and (c) date.

Paul Boateng: Treasury Ministers meet Scottish Executive Ministers on occasion on a range of subjects.

White Van Imports

Peter Duncan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many vehicles have been impounded by HM Customs and Excise in respect of white van imports since 1 January 2000.

John Healey: Customs' centrally held information on vehicle seizures does not differentiate the types of vehicle seized as outlined in the answer given by the former Financial Secretary (Paul Boateng), to the hon. Member for Guildford (Sue Doughty), on 3 December 2001, Official Report, column 65W. The total number of vehicles seized for all excise offences across the whole of the UK was 5,200 in the financial year 1999–2000, and 10,219 for the year 2000–01. Figures for 2001–02 will be published in the context of the overall performance of the 'tackling tobacco smuggling' strategy later in the year.

Hearing Aids

Rachel Squire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to exempt from tax the hearing aids required for hearing impaired people to pursue employment.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Perth (Annabelle Ewing) on 11 July 2002, Official Report, column 1104W.

Hearing Aids

Bill Tynan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will change the rules so that hearing aids paid for by employers are exempt from tax.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government are continuing to remove barriers to work and ensure that disabled people do not face discrimination in the work place. Regulations came into force on 9 July 2002 to ensure that benefits for disabled employees which may be used both in and out of the work place, such as a hearing aid, will not be liable to a tax charge.

Non-domicile Tax Status

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what methodology the Inland Revenue is using to assess the number of individuals claiming non-domicile tax status; what the cost is of such status; what other work is being undertaken as a result of the review announced in paragraph 5.83 of the 2002 Budget; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: In his Budget statement, the Chancellor announced a review of the residence and domicile rules as they affect the tax liabilities of individuals. The work of the review is being undertaken by officials. As part of that work the Inland Revenue will be carrying out various fact-finding exercises, drawing on a range of sources.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  when the EU Customs Code Committee on customs warehouses and free zones is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when the EU Customs Code Committee on transit is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  when the EU Customs Code Committee on the movement of air or sea passengers' baggage (technical problems) is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  when the EU Customs Code Committee on favourable tariff treatment (nature or end-use of goods) is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  when the EU Customs Code Committee on counterfeit and pirated goods is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement;
	(6)  when the EU Customs Code Committee on the single administrative document is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement;
	(7)  when the EU Customs Code Committee on general customs rules is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement;
	(8)  when the EU Customs Code Committee on the recovery of claims is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement;
	(9)  when the EU Customs Code Committee on customs procedures with economic impact is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement;
	(10)  when the EU Customs Code Committee on customs valuation is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The following table indicates when the various EU Committees are next due to meet.
	
		
			 EU Committee(14) Next meeting (2002) 
		
		
			 Transit 16 September 
			 Customs warehouses and free zones 25 September 
			 Customs Valuation 23 September 
			 Movement of air or sea passengers' baggage (technical problems) (15)— 
			 General Customs Rule Date to be arranged 
			 Counterfeit and Pirated Goods 3 September 
			 Customs Procedure with Economic Impact 25 September 
			 Favourable Tariff Treatment (Nature or End-use of Goods) 25 September 
			 Single Administrative Document Date to be arranged 
		
	
	(14) There is no EU VAT or Customs Committee on the recovery of claims other than that on mutual assistance.
	(15) This Committee has not met in the past five years and has no outstanding items under consideration. No further meetings have been timetabled.
	The UK is normally represented by one or two officials from HM Customs and Excise on each of these Committees. The Customs delegates at these Committees represent all of the UK.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the European Advisory Committee on statistical information in the economic and social spheres (CEIES) is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from John Pullinger to Angus Robertson, dated 24 July 2002
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your parliamentary question concerning the EU European advisory committee on statistical information in the economic and social sphere (CEIES). I am replying in his absence. (71838)
	The European advisory committee on statistical information in the economic and social sphere (CEIES) next meets on 22nd November 2002. In addition to the National Statistician there are 2 UK members who serve in a personal capacity. Members do not represent individual interests or organisations.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the EU Committee on monetary, financial and balance-of-payments statistics is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from John Pullinger to Angus Robertson, dated 24 July 2002
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your parliamentary question concerning the EU Committee on monetary, financial and balance-of-payment statistics. I am replying in his absence. (71826)
	The EU Committee on monetary, financial and balance-of- payments statistics is due to meet at the end of January 2003. The exact date of the meeting is not yet fixed.
	The Scottish Executive has never attended and is not a member.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the EU Committee on the harmonisation of the compilation of gross national product at market prices is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Mr. John Pullinger to Mr. Angus Robertson, dated 24 July 2002
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your parliamentary question concerning the EU Committee on the harmonisation of gross national product at market prices. I am replying in his absence. (71833)
	The EU Committee on the harmonisation of gross national product at market prices is due to meet on 5th November 2002.
	The terms of reference of the committee relates to methodology for compilation of National Accounts, which is a reserved issue. The Scottish Executive has never attended and is not a member.

PFI Contracts

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 2 July 2002, Official Report, column 120W, on PFI contracts, what estimate his Department has made of the payments under PFI contracts for each year from 2002–03 to 2027–28 for Government PFI deals which are expected to reach preferred bidder stage in the next three years.

Paul Boateng: During the competitive process, before a preferred bidder is selected, it is not possible to determine with any degree of accuracy exactly what the long term payment obligations are likely to be for any project. However, once projects have reached preferred bidder status, Departmental estimates of the relevant future service payments are published twice a year.
	The most recent publication of this information can be found in the Financial Statement and Budget Report 2002, Table C 19. As is customary, I shall provide an update of these figures later this year.

Inward Investment

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of inward investment into the United Kingdom was in the years ending (a) 1 May 1997 and (b) 1 May 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: The Office for National Statistics publishes annual figures on inward investment into the United Kingdom in its Foreign Direct Investment Business Monitor (MA4). It also publishes quarterly estimates as part of the Balance of Payments First Release. Both of these can be found on the ONS website (statistics.gov.uk). The UK has continued to attract the largest share of inward investment in Europe and announcements made in this year's Budget will further serve to consolidate the UK's lead position.

DEL Spending

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of DEL spending labelled 'transport' is spent on (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) England and Wales and (d) England, Wales and Scotland in each year from 2002–03 to 2005–06.

Paul Boateng: The amount allocated to the Department for Transport to spend on transport provision in England, and the national rail system, is given in the Spending Review 2002 White Paper, table 8.1. (An amended version of this table follows, which corrects a misprint. A corrigendum will be issued shortly.). The line in this table which gives an estimate of total UK transport spending does so on the basis of estimated spending by local authorities and devolved Administrations. It is of course a matter for devolved Administrations as to how they spend their allocated budgets.
	
		Table 8.1 key figures -- £ million
		
			 Department for Transport 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 
		
		
			 Resource budget 4,960 7,632 7,749 8,650 
			 Capital budget 2,948 3,369 3,811 3,391 
			 Total Departmental Expenditure Limit(16) 7,661 10,692 11,197 11,640 
			 Near-cash spending in DfT DEL(17) 7,843 10,829 11,333 11,774 
			 UK transport spending (estimated)(18) 11,962 15,347 15,827 16,406 
		
	
	(16) Full resource budgeting basis net of depreciation.
	(17) Consistent with previous control basis.
	(18) Subject to spending decisions of local authorities and devolved Administrations.

DEL Spending

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which mid-year population estimates were used to determine incremental Scottish DEL expenditure for 2002–03; and which mid-year population estimates will be used for the same determination for Scottish funding for each year from 2003–04 to 2005–06.

Paul Boateng: The mid-year estimates were set out in the Statement of Funding Policy on 15 July 2002 and were the Office for National Statistics latest mid-year estimate published last year. Future funding changes will be based on the latest available ONS estimates as explained in the Statement of Funding Policy.

Taxis and Buses

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what new incentives he will introduce to stimulate the use of less environmentally damaging vehicles as (a) taxis and (b) other public service carriers.

John Healey: In Budget 2002, the Chancellor announced a number of measures to encourage reductions in the environmental impact of transport, which could apply equally to taxis and public service carriers. Any new incentives will be considered as part of the normal Budget process.

United Kingdom Listing Authority

Barbara Follett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make available the annual objectives for the United Kingdom Listing Authority.

Ruth Kelly: The Financial Services Authority, acting in its role as the competent authority for listing, is referred to as the United Kingdom Listing Authority. Every year, the operational objectives of the UKLA are discussed with the Treasury. The annual objectives for 2002–03, which the Treasury has endorsed, will be placed in the Library, and also put on the Treasury website.

Royal Gifts

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what mechanism is in place to distinguish between gifts received by (a) the Queen and (b) other members of the royal family in (i) their official roles and (ii) their private capacities; what rules govern the receipt of gifts donated to members of the royal family in their official capacities; and whether such gifts are exempt from taxation.

Gordon Brown: holding answer 2 July 2002
	Gifts are categorised as official if given during an official engagement or in connection with the official role or duties of a member of the royal family.
	Gifts received in an official capacity are not taxed because they do not belong to the individual members of the royal family. Gifts received in a private capacity are treated by members of the royal family in the same way as gifts received by anyone else. The normal inheritance tax and lifetime transfer rules would apply to such gifts subject to the arrangements for Her Majesty and the Prince of Wales set out in the Memorandum of Understanding in the Royal Trustees report (HC464) published on 11 February 1993.
	Records are kept of official gifts received by the Queen and where they are stored. Other members of the royal family follow similar practice. Gifts received by any member of the royal family in a private capacity are not listed in official records.

Royal Gifts

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what public funds were expended in 2001 on gifts given by (a) the Queen and (b) other members of the royal family in their official roles.

Gordon Brown: holding answer 2 July 2002
	The cost of official gifts given by Her Majesty the Queen and other members of the royal family in 2001 amounted to £36,783 and £11,071, respectively.

Royal Finances

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether paragraph 31 of the 1993 Memorandum of Understanding on the subject of royal finances has been invoked since its inception.

Gordon Brown: holding answer 17 July 2002
	No.

Throat Cancer

Tim Loughton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the survival rate was for throat cancer in the UK in the last 12 months.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 18 July 2002
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Tim Loughton, dated 24 July 2002
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question on the survival rate for throat cancer in the UK in the last 12 months. I am replying in his absence. (71097)
	Cancer of the larynx is commonly referred to as "throat cancer". Information on laryngeal cancer survival for the UK as a whole is not available. Survival rates for the constituent countries of the UK are not comparable.
	Cancers of the throat and related areas are formally classified to codes C13 and C14 (malignant neoplasm of hypopharynx, and malignant neoplasm of other and ill-defined sites in the lip, oral cavity and pharynx) according to the International Classification of Disease tenth revision (ICD10). There were 311 newly diagnosed cases of cancers in these locations in England in 1998, the most recent year for which information is available. No information on survival is available.
	Information on survival from cancer of the larynx for patients diagnosed in England and Wales is summarised in chapter 21 of the book Cancer Survival Trends 1 . This publication present cancer survival trends in patients diagnosed between 1971 and 1990 and followed up for at least five years to the end of 1995.
	For men, the most recent information available relates to diagnosis in 1991–93 and follow-up up to the end of 1998 (Health Statistics Quarterly 6 2 ). The crude survival rate was 51% and relative survival 64%, based on 4,501 men diagnosed. Women are not included in the analysis, as they represent less than 20% of all the cases of cancer of the larynx.
	The figures for patients diagnosed in 1986–90 and followed up to the end of 1995, are given in the table below.
	
		One-and five-year survival from cancer of the larynx* for patients diagnosed in 1986–90, England and Wales
		
			   One-year (%) Five year (%)  
			  Number of patients Crude Relative Crude Relative 
		
		
			 Men 7,195 80 84 51 64 
			 Women 1,592 76 79 49 58 
		
	
	Source:
	Coleman MP et al. Cancer Survival Trends in England and Wales, 1971–1995: deprivation and NHS Region.
	Studies in Medical and Population Subjects No. 61. London: The Stationery Office, 1999.
	* Cancer of the larynx has been defined to the International Classification of Disease eight and ninth revision (ICD8 and ICD9) code 161 for the period 1975–1994, and to the code C32 according to the International Classification of Disease tenth revision (ICD10) from 1995 onwards.
	Crude survival is the proportion of a cohort of subjects alive at the end of a specified time interval since diagnosis (irrespective of the cause of death). Relative survival is the ratio of the observed survival in the group being studied and the survival that would have been expected had they been subject only to the mortality rates of the general population.
	(19) Coleman MP et al. Cancer Survival Trends in England and Wales, 1971–1995: deprivation and NHS Region. Studies in Medical and Population Subjects No. 61. London: The Stationery Office, 1999.
	(20) Coleman MP, Babb P, Harris S, Quinn MJ, Sloggett A, De Stavola B. Cancer survival in England and Wales, 1991–98. Health Statistics Quarterly 6:71–80, The Stationery Office (2000) on the National Statistics website at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme–health/HSQ6Book.pdf

Drug Seizures

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many drug seizures from foreign vessels have been made in Scottish waters since 1995;
	(2)  what the weight of drug seizures from foreign vessels caught in Scottish waters has been in each year since 1995, broken down by type of drug.

John Healey: holding answer 18 July 2002
	Since 1995, HM Customs and Excise have made 58 seizures from UK and foreign flagged vessels in international and UK waters. Of these, three were made from foreign vessels in Scottish waters. Two of the three seizures were made in 1998, one from a German and one from an Irish vessel. The third seizure was made in 2000, from a Maltese vessel. A total of 80 kilograms of amphetamine, 120 tonnes of cannabis, 14 and a half tonnes of cocaine, and 25 kilograms of heroin were seized as a result of these 58 cases. The three seizures in Scottish waters resulted in the recovery of 17 tonnes of cannabis.

Family Resources Survey

John Barrett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2002, Official Report, column 462W, on tax credits, when the Family Resources Survey 2000–01 was received by the Treasury; when full analysis of the survey began; and when he expects the analysis to be concluded.

Dawn Primarolo: The final data set was received in May 2002.

Government Art Collection

Hugo Swire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when an inventory was last prepared of the Government's holdings of art and antiques

Paul Boateng: The National Asset Register, published for the first time in 1997 and updated, with full valuations, in 2001, summarised asset holdings across Departments. Where appropriate, Departments summarise heritage assets separately.

Government Art Collection

Hugo Swire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) disposals from and (b) acquisitions to the Government's art and antiques collection there have been since 1997.

Paul Boateng: The National Asset Register summarised departmental asset acquisitions and disposals between 1997 and 2001. Similar information is provided annually in Departments' accounts. Where relevant, heritage assets are categorised separately.
	The aggregate information requested is not held centrally. Details of individual asset acquisitions and disposals are available from individual Departments.

Government Art Collection

Hugo Swire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans the Government have to sell its holdings of art and antiques; and what discussions his Department is having on the subject.

Paul Boateng: Specific asset sales are a matter for individual Departments. Departments' asset acquisition and disposal strategies will be set out in full in new departmental investment strategies, to be published in the autumn.

Government Art Collection

Hugo Swire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value is of the Government's holdings of art and antiques.

Paul Boateng: The 11,500 items that comprise the Government Art Collection are not valued, in accordance with accounting policy on heritage assets. Details of departmental asset holdings—including art and antiques assets—and their values are available in summary in Departments' accounts and are also published in the National Asset Register.

Overseas Visits

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the overseas trips on departmental business that have been undertaken in each of the last five years by officials in his Department; and what the (a) cost, (b) purpose and (c) result was in each case.

Ruth Kelly: All overseas travel by Treasury officials is undertaken in accordance with the principles set out in Chapter 8 of the Civil Service Management Code, and the Department's own rules and guidance.

Consultation Documents

Brian Iddon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which consultation documents published by the Treasury in 2001 were not made available as paper copies.

Ruth Kelly: Paper copies of all Treasury consultation documents are available from the Treasury's public inquiries unit.

Consultation Documents

Brian Iddon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how long the Treasury allowed for consultation on each of the consultation documents it published in 2001 in (a) electronic and (b) printed form.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Twickenham on 10 June 2002, Official Report, column 865W. The same time is allowed for consultations regardless of the format in which the document is published.

Consultation Documents

Brian Iddon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints the Treasury has received about its 2001 consultations by (a) electronic and (b) printed means.

Ruth Kelly: Records of complaints about consultations are not held centrally by the Treasury.

Consultation Documents

Brian Iddon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what format the Treasury has published the results of its 2001 written consultations.

Ruth Kelly: The Treasury consults regularly on a wide range of policy areas. Results have so far been formally published for a number of 2001 consultation exercises including responses to the Review of the Supply of the Supply of Scientists and Engineers (the Sir Gareth Robert's Review) and Securing our Future Health (the Wanless Review).

Consultation Documents

Brian Iddon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether consultation documents published by the Treasury in 2001 carried the consultation criteria as recommended in the Cabinet Office code of practice on written consultations.

Ruth Kelly: Recent Treasury consultation documents have not carried the criteria. The relevant guidance will be re-issued.

Consultation Documents

Brian Iddon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many consultation documents published in 2001 in (a) electronic and (b) printed form the Treasury has monitored and evaluated in accordance with the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultations.

Ruth Kelly: The Treasury has not yet formally monitored and evaluated consultation documents published in 2001.

Consultation Documents

Brian Iddon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Treasury has appointed a designated consultation co-ordinator in accordance with the Cabinet Office code of practice on written consultations.

Ruth Kelly: Yes, the Treasury has appointed a designated consultation co-ordinator.

Public Consultations

Don Foster: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the public consultations undertaken by his Department since 1997, indicating for each consultation (a) if copies were available online, (b) if copies were available in print, (c) the date the time period given for responses opened and (d) the date the time period given for responses closed.

Ruth Kelly: The Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultations applies to all formal national public consultation documents issued by Departments from 1 January 2001 and the information requested is not available before that date. For consultations issued from January 2001, the information is available on the Consultations section of the Treasury's website, www.htm-treasury.gov.uk, which includes both launch dates and closure dates. Paper copies of Treasury publications are available on request.

Public Consultations

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what public consultations have been commenced by his Department since 1 April; and what the (a) closing date and (b) website address of each were.

Ruth Kelly: A list of consultations commenced since 1 April, with closing dates, is available on the Treasury's website at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/Consultations–and_Legislation/.

Accounts

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the rules governing the publishing of (a) the Queen's accounts, (b) 10 Downing Street's accounts, (c) Chequers' accounts and (d) accounts relating to grace and favour apartments.

Gordon Brown: The accounts for The Queen's Civil List, and for the grants in aid for royal travel by air and rail, maintenance of the occupied royal palaces in England, royal communications and information, and for the maintenance of Marlborough House are published annually by the royal household on a purely voluntary basis.
	Expenditure on No. 10 Downing Street is included in the Cabinet Office annual accounts and is not reported separately. Resource accounts for the Cabinet Office are laid annually before the House of Commons under sections 6 and 7 of the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000. They are then published.
	Chequers is a private trust and not a Government building. As a private trust the accounts are confidential.

Trading Partners

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) the coefficient of the exchange rates variation with sterling and (b) the value in sterling of reciprocal trade with the UK was for each of the United Kingdom's 20 principal trading partners from 1997 until 31 December 2001.

Ruth Kelly: The coefficient of variation of a data series can be calculated by dividing the standard deviation by the mean.
	A detailed geographical breakdown of UK trade is published by the Office For National Statistics in section 9 of the annual Balance of Payments publication (The Pink Book). The ONS also publishes a list of the UK's top 50 trading partners for goods exports and imports in the Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics. Both publications are available on the ONS website (http:// www.statistics.gov.uk/).

Employee Share Schemes

Michael Howard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the potential for employers to offer fractional shares within employee share schemes; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Chancellor of the Exchequer has not received any representations on the potential for employers to offer fractional shares within employee share schemes.

Payroll Software

Lembit �pik: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how much is set aside for Government Departments to replace their existing payroll provision with new software which has the Inland Revenue payroll standard; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  which Government Departments have filed their P14 and P35 IR documents electronically; when those Departments that have not filed electronically will do so; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  which elements of the payroll standard the Government's payroll provisions do not meet; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  how much is to be set aside to enhance Government Departments' existing software to comply with the Inland Revenue payroll standard and undertake the testing; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  which Government Departments pay their employees through software that has the Inland Revenue payroll standard; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: This information is not available or could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Quality standards for mandatory electronic filing of employers' end of year tax returns have not yet been settled.

Tax Return Errors

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) financial and (b) promotional incentives are offered to staff at the Inland Revenue for investigating errors in tax returns.

Dawn Primarolo: No financial or promotional incentives are offered to Inland Revenue staff specifically for investigating errors in tax returns. However, annual pay awards take account of overall individual performance.

National Rail

Nick Gibb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether debt incurred by National Rail will be included in the net cash requirement.

Paul Boateng: The Office for National Statistics has decided that Network Rail will be classified as a private sector company in national accounts. Therefore, its borrowing will not be included in the public sector net cash requirement.

Enterprise Investment Scheme

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on take-up of the Enterprise Investment Scheme.

Dawn Primarolo: Information on investment in EIS companies is published on the Inland Revenue website. The latest figures for take-up of EIS for the last three years are:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 199899 278.1 
			 19992000 469.0 
			 200001 661.6 
		
	
	The figures for 200102 will be available in September. The amounts for the earlier years will also be updated then as there is a considerable time lag between the year to which the claim relates and the receipt of the claim.

Inland Revenue

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many outstanding claims are pending in respect of the cases at issue in Clark (Inspector of Taxes) v. Perks and other appeals.

Dawn Primarolo: 720 claims were still receiving consideration as at 19 July 2002.

Inland Revenue

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates to be the total potential payout due from the Inland Revenue to claimants stemming from the cases at issue in Clark (Inspector of Taxes) v. Perks and other appeals.

Dawn Primarolo: No estimate of the total to be repaid has been made.

Inland Revenue

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what redress can be sought by claimants who have not been paid their back-tax, pursuant to the Court of Appeal's decision Clark (Inspector of Taxes) v. Perks and other appeals.

Dawn Primarolo: If a taxpayer wants to find out why a decision on their entitlement to a tax repayment has not yet been made they should follow up their claim with the Inland Revenue involved. If they are concerned about the way in which their claim is being handled they should contact the officer in charge.

Inland Revenue

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason payments have ceased following the Court of Appeal's decision Clark (Inspector of Taxes) v. Perks and other appeals; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: They have not ceased. Repayment claims continue to be considered.

Inland Revenue

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for which years claimants may have valid claims for refunds from the Inland Revenue after the Court of Appeal's decision, Clark (Inspector of Taxes) v. Perks and other appeals.

Dawn Primarolo: Taxpayers who were employed on a jack up rig before 17 March 1998 may be entitled to claim the foreign earnings deduction for tax years up to and including the year ended 5 April 1998 (199798). Taxpayers have until 31 October 2002 to request a return for 199697 and until 31 October 2003 to request one for 199798. For the year 199596 and earlier years claims can only be made within six years of the end of the tax year in which an assessment was made.

Inland Revenue

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the (a) lowest, (b) highest and (c) average payout to claimants stemming from the cases at issue in Clark (Inspector of Taxes) v. Perks and other appeals.

Dawn Primarolo: The lowest repayment to date is 11. The highest is 70,590 and the average is 5,333.

Inland Revenue

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claims made by offshore workers have been paid as a result of the court decisions in Clark (Inspector of Taxes) v. Perks and other appeals.

Dawn Primarolo: 851 repayments of tax have been made up to 19 July 2002.

Inland Revenue

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Court of Appeal's decision Clark (Inspector of Taxes) v. Perks and other appeals, for what reason taxpayers who overpaid due to mistaken classifications between offshore jack-up rigs and ships, have not been repaid in full.

Dawn Primarolo: All taxpayers who establish a valid claim to the foreign earnings deduction will have the tax they overpaid as a result refunded. Work is still continuing in some cases to determine whether the various conditions for entitlement to FED are satisfied.

Inland Revenue

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the status is of claims made by offshore workers regarding payment to them by the Inland Revenue stemming from the court decisions in Clark (Inspector of Taxes) v. Perks and other appeals; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: A majority of these claims have now been dealt with and either repayments made, or the claims turned down because entitlement to the foreign earnings deduction has not been established. Decisions will be made on the cases that remain under consideration in due course.

Development Assistance

John Barrett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 15 July 2002, Official Report, column 73W, on development assistance, what strategy he has for raising UK official development assistance to the UN target of 0.7 per cent. of GNP from 200506.

John Healey: Since this Government came to power our aid has doubled and our aid ratio has increased from 0.26 per cent. in 1997, to 0.32 per cent. in 2001. The Government have pledged our aid ratio will rise to 0.40 per cent. in 200506, its highest level since 1981. This will take the UK above the commitment agreement at the UN Financing for Development conference held at Monterrey in March, to bring the EU average oda/GNI ratio to 0.39 per cent. by 200506. This is also more than double the current G7 country oda/GNI average of 0.18 per cent. and above the current OECD average of 0.22 per cent.
	Any timetable beyond 200506 is a matter for future Parliaments.

Parliamentary Answers

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is his policy to ensure that documents referred to in parliamentary answers are available via his Department's website.

Ruth Kelly: When answering parliamentary questions, Treasury Ministers refer to a wide range of documents published by the Treasury, the other Chancellor's Departments and by other organisations, such as National Statistics.
	Where a document is specifically referred to in a parliamentary answer as being on the Treasury website, it will be found there, as well as in the House of Commons Library. Other documents referred to in a parliamentary answer will be available in the House of Commons Library.

Parliamentary Answers

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for how long he retains documents referred to in parliamentary answers on his Department's website.

Ruth Kelly: Website documents which have been referred to in answers to parliamentary questions, will be on the Treasury's website for at least the next year and will be available on request thereafter.

Pharmaceutical Companies

John Barrett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 17 July 2002, Official Report, column 336W, on pharmaceutical companies, what steps he is taking to ensure such tax incentives are not exploited by UK-based pharmaceutical companies, for the clearance of expired or nearly expired medicines to developing countries.

Dawn Primarolo: Donors will be encouraged to comply with the World Health Organisation's Guidelines for Drug Donations. Reference will be made to them in the guidance that the Inland Revenue issues to its inspectors which is published on the Inland Revenue website and is widely used by taxpayers and businesses in determining their tax liability.
	Where a company makes a gift from its trading stock it would normally be required to bring the market value of the gift into its tax computation in order to reflect the sales proceeds foregone. The relief in Clause 55 of the Finance Bill 2002 works by removing this charge, subject to certain conditions. If stock is unsaleable because it is time expired or nearly so, there would be little or no tax charge to add backtherefore the tax relief would be of little or no value to the donor company.

Incomes

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people's annual gross income increased by more than 2,500 in each of the last two financial years for which such figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: I regret that this information is not available.

Scotland Office Budget

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the budget of the Scotland Office is determined.

Paul Boateng: Provision for the costs of the Scotland Office is found from within the total resources voted for Scotland by the United Kingdom Parliament, as allowed for in the Statement of Funding Policy.

Scotland Office Budget

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the comparability factors for Scottish expenditure via Barnett were determined.

Paul Boateng: The comparability factors for Scottish expenditure via the Barnett formula were published in the Statement of Funding Policy on 15 July, following consultation with the devolved Administrations. They reflect the extent to which UK departmental expenditure is devolved.

Spending Review Targets

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Government will ask the National Audit office to determine whether the spending review targets have been met.

Paul Boateng: Departments are responsible for delivering and reporting progress against their public service agreement targets. The Government have invited the Comptroller and Auditor General to take responsibility for the validation of systems used in reporting on PSA targets where measurement of performance depends on data.

Culture, Media and Sport (Scotland)

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason the comparability factor for Culture, Media and Sport in Scotland has decreased.

Paul Boateng: The comparability factor for Culture, Media and Sport in Scotland has decreased because a higher proportion of the DCMS budget is not devolved.

Scottish Fiscal Autonomy

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the Scottish Executive on the issue of Scottish fiscal autonomy.

Paul Boateng: No specific representations have been received on this topic, although the Executive makes representations to Government on a wide range of issues.

Temporary Staff

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employees under contract from temping agencies worked in his Department; and how much was spent on temporary staff (a) as a total and (b) as a percentage of the total staffing budget in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave her on 23 May 2002, Official Report, columns 57475W.

Ministerial Meetings

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many people attended the G7 Finance Ministers meeting in Halifax in June from (a) his Department and (b) other UK Government Departments; and what the total cost of the visit was;
	(2)  how many people attended the World Economic Forum in New York in February from (a) his Department and (b) other UK Government Departments; and what the total cost of the visit was.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I am giving today to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow).

Ministerial Meetings

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when and where Ministers in his Department have held meetings with Ministers and officials of the Irish Government since 1 June 2000; which Ministers were involved in each meeting; which Irish Government Departments were involved in each meeting; and which Ministers and officials from the Irish Government attended each meeting.

Ruth Kelly: No formal meetings have been held between Treasury Ministers and their Irish counterparts since 1 June 2000. However, Treasury Ministers meet regularly with their Irish counterparts, for example in the margins at ECOFIN council meetings.

Growth Rates

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much growth would be required in the United Kingdom over the next two quarters of 2002 in order to meet the GDP growth targets set out in the 2002 Comprehensive Spending Review.

Paul Boateng: The economic assumptions underpinning the public finance projections in Budget 2002 are set out in table C3 of the April 2002 Financial Statement and Budget Report.

Growth Rates

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average GDP growth rate for the United Kingdom has been in each year since 199798.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Alex Salmond, dated 24 July 2002
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on GDP annual growth rates. (72590)
	The information requested is given in the table below.
	
		GDP annual growth rates in percentages covering the period -- from 19972001
		
			 Year Percentage 
		
		
			 1997 3.4% 
			 1998 2.9% 
			 1999 2.4% 
			 2000 3.1% 
			 2001 1.9%

Growth Rates

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on (a) the real growth rates of UK (i) total and (ii) average managed expenditure outlined in the 2002 Comprehensive Spending Review and (b) real growth rates in UK total managed expenditure over the last five years.

Paul Boateng: Total managed expenditure (TME) is planned to rise in real terms by 4.3 per cent. a year on average between 200203 and 200506, while annually managed expenditure will rise at 3.0 per cent. a year in real terms over the same period, as detailed in the 2002 Spending Review White Paper, Opportunity for all: investing in an enterprising, fairer Britain (Cm 5570, July 2002). Between 199798 and 200102, TME rose in real terms by an average of 1.6 per cent. a year.

Growth Rates

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on (a) the real growth rates of UK departmental expenditure levels as outlined in the 2002 Comprehensive Spending Review and (b) real growth rates in UK departmental expenditure levels over the last five years.

Paul Boateng: Total spending within departmental expenditure limits, on a full resource budgeting basis, is growing at 5.2 per cent. a year in real terms on average between 200203 and 200506, as detailed in the 2002 Spending Review White Paper, Opportunity for all: investing in an enterprising, fairer Britain (Cm 5570, July 2002). On a near-cash basis, the growth rate is 5.4 per cent. Between 199798 and 200102, real growth in total spending within departmental expenditure limits was on average 3.0 per cent., in near-cash terms.

Tax Credits

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in cases where two parents share the care of a child, which parent will be eligible for the child tax credit.

Paul Boateng: Where two people share the care of a child the decision as to who is eligible to claim or who will receive payment depends on who has the main responsibility or is the main carer for that child or those children. This will depend on the particular circumstance of each case.

Tax Credits

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  pursuant to his answer of 24 April 2002, Official Report, column 336W, on tax credits, for what reason the Family Resources Survey for 200001 cannot be used to calculate a figure for the take-up of the working families tax credit;
	(2)  what assessment the Treasury has made of the research conducted by the Policy Studies Institute on behalf of the Department of Work and Pensions and the Inland Revenue on the take-up rate of the working families tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: I have nothing to add to my previous answer.

Tax Credits

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the draft application form for the child tax credit and the working tax credit, with the relevant guidance notes.

Paul Boateng: As the Paymaster General made clear in the debate in Standing Committee on the Child Tax Credit Regulations on 16 July, in August we shall start to send out application packs to potential claimants. She confirmed then that we would keep hon. Members informed, and provide them with the guidance to ensure they can property advise their constituents at that time.

Tax Credits

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which non-Government organisations will help distribute information about the new tax credits.

Ruth Kelly: The new tax credits, child tax credit and working tax credit, are to be introduced in April next year. In the run-up to their introduction, the Inland Revenue is working with a large number of organisations from across the voluntary sector to make sure they have the information they need.

Government (Appraisal and Evaluation)

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the consultation paper on a revised version of appraisal and evaluation in central Government before 24 July; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: The Treasury is today publishing for consultation a revised version of the new Green Book: Appraisal and Evaluation in Central Government. Copies are available in the Vote Office and in the Library of the House.

Departmental Report

Alan Beith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost was of publishing his Department's annual report for each of the past five years.

Paul Boateng: Over the past five years the costs of publishing the Treasury's annual report that were born directly by the Department are set out in the table. Other costs of printing and publication are met directly by the publisher, The Stationery Office Limited (TSO), and do not fall to Government.
	
		
			   
			  Direct cost 
		
		
			 2002(21) 4,100 
			 2001 11,760 
			 2000 4,450 
			 1999(22)  
			 1998(22)  
		
	
	(21) Costs are approximate and, pending some outstanding issues, will be finalised shortly.
	(22) Prior to 2000, the report was designed in-house and thus no additional costs were incurred.

Statistical Information

John Whittingdale: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many questionnaires or forms seeking statistical information were sent to businesses by (a) the Office for National Statistics, (b) the Inland Revenue and (c) HM Customs and Excise in the latest year for which figures are available; and how many in each case were mandatory.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. J. Whittingdale, dated 24 July 2002
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on how many questionnaires or forms seeking statistical information were sent to businesses by (a) the Office for National Statistics, (b) the Inland Revenue and (c) HM Customs and Excise in the latest year for which figures are available; and how many in each case were mandatory. (70838)
	The information requested is given in the table below.
	
		Statistical surveys of business and local authorities, carried out by the Office for National Statistics, HM Customs and Excise and Inland Revenue, 2000(23)
		
			   Number of surveys  
			 Department Forms(24) Total Voluntary Statutory 
		
		
			 ONS 1,476,229 74 11 63 
			 HM Customs and Excise 156,000 2 1 1 
			 Inland Revenue 100,000 197 197 0 
		
	
	(23) All surveys are attributed to the sponsoring department.
	(24) Includes telephone interviews, personal interviews, etc.
	Source:
	ONSGovernment Statistical Service Report 2000Annex A Tables, published 2002

Taxation

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answers of 8 July 2002, Official Report, column 769W, and 26 June, Official Report, column 945W, on taxation, if he will restate his answers excluding benefits and assumed changes in original incomes; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: The table gives the information requested. The estimates are based on a pooled Family Expenditure Survey dataset for the three years from 199798 to 19992000 with incomes and expenditure projected forward to 200102. The estimates themselves only include the impact of measures introduced and do not include any assumed changes to original incomes.
	
		
			 Net income Decile Percentage change in net income 
		
		
			 Bottom 1 
			 2 2 
			 3 1 
			 4 1 
			 5 1 
			 6 1 
			 7 1 
			 8 1 
			 9 0 
			 Top 0 
		
	
	Note:
	The decile groups are of all households ranked by net income before housing costs and equivalised using the McClements scale.

Marks and Spencer

Michael Howard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the implications for his consultation document on VAT on Face Value Vouchers of the 11 July judgment of the European Court of Justice in Case C-62/00, Marks and Spencer v Commissioners of HM Customs and Excise;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the total cost to the Exchequer of the 11 July judgment of the European Court of Justice in Case C-62/00, Marks and Spencer v Commissioners of HM Customs and Excise, relating to HM Customs' three year rule on retrospective VAT claims across the economy;
	(3)  with reference to the 11 July judgment of the European Court of Justice in Case C-62/00, Marks and Spencer v Commissioners of HM Customs and Excise, if he will estimate the total VAT erroneously charged on (a) chocolate coated teacakes and (b) face value vouchers since 1973; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: Customs officials are in the process of consulting with legal advisers on the implications of the judgment of the European Court of Justice in Case C-62/00, Marks and Spencer plc v the Commissioners of Customs and Excise.
	As the ECJ has endorsed the UK's three year time limit for repayments of overpaid VAT, Customs' view is that the judgment will only affect certain claims which were made, or could have been made, around the time when the cap was introduced in 1996.
	Customs will be publishing guidance on the wider implications of the judgment for VAT registered businesses soon.
	We are currently unable to provide an accurate estimate of the total revenue effect of this judgment, nor of its effect on claims relating to particular types of product. However, given the limited scope of this judgment, it is not expected to have a significant revenue effect.
	This judgment is not thought to have implications for the current consultation document on 'VAT on Face Value Vouchers'.

Salaries

Paul Marsden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the percentage increase in spending on salaries in his Department for each year since 1992; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The percentage change in spending on salaries for the Treasury, including what is now the Office of Government Commerce, can be seen in the table. Data for years before 199697 could only be collated at disproportionate expense. Growth rates may be affected by changes of functions.
	
		
			   Pay bill  million Percentage change on previous year 
		
		
			 199697 56  
			 199798 55 -1.8 
			 199899 49 -10.9 
			 19992000 51 4.1 
			 200001 55 7.8 
			 200102(25) 61 10.9 
		
	
	(25) unaudited outturn

Public Service Agreements

Christopher Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans there are to monitor annual progress against long term targets set out in public service agreements.

Paul Boateng: holding answer 19 July 2002
	Progress against all targets in public service agreements (PSAs) is set out in departmental reports and autumn performance reports. The Government will provide regular web-based reports on all the new PSA targets from next year.

Public Service Agreements

Christopher Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sanctions he will use against Departments which fail to deliver their public service agreements.

Paul Boateng: holding answer 19 July 2002
	Departments are accountable to the public and Parliament for their performance against their public service agreement targets (PSAs). Performance is also one of a number of factors taken into account during a spending review, where performance can indicate where resources can best be deployed and the need for action and reforms to ensure delivery.

Public Service Agreements

Christopher Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer why there is no public service agreement target for Customs and Excise in respect of the illicit market share for oils in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: holding answer 19 July 2002
	As explained in Measuring Indirect Tax Fraud, published in November 2001, the non-UK duty paid share of the road fuel sector in Northern Ireland is more complex than in the rest of the UK. Because of the long land border with the Republic of Ireland, Customs are unable to distinguish clearly between legitimate cross-border shopping and fraud there in the same way they are able to on the UK mainland.
	As a consequence, while the Government have judged it right to set a PSA target for reducing the size of the illicit market for England, Scotland and Wales, it is not yet possible to set a comparable target for Northern Ireland.
	The Government are, however, determined to tackle road fuel fraud in Northern Ireland and Customs have, over the last two years, enhanced its enforcement activity by increasing the number of officers tackling oils fraud in Northern Ireland from 25 officers to over 160. This has resulted in the first increase in the volume of UK duty paid fuel delivered into Northern Ireland for over four years.
	The Government still consider the level of fraud to be unacceptable and Customs is pursuing, with other agencies and in addition to steps taken on mainland oils fraud, ways in which the impact on oils fraud in Northern Ireland can be increased.

Public Works Loan Board

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money is on loan from the Public Works Loan Board, broken down by country or region of the United Kingdom; and how much money is available for lending from the PWLB.

Ruth Kelly: The 127th Annual Report of the Public Works Loan Board, laid before Parliament on 8 July 2002, notes that at 31 March 2002 the following principal amounts were on loan:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 England 34,359.0 
			 Scotland 9,254.4 
			 Wales 3,267.6 
			  
			 Total 46,881.0 
		
	
	The Public Works Loan Board does not lend to Northern Ireland authorities.
	The maximum amount of loans outstanding to the Public Works Loan Board at any one time should not exceed 55,000 million.

Inheritance Tax

Andrew Bennett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have applied for conditional exemption from inheritance tax in the last 12 months; and how this tax relief is being amended to take into account the implementation of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 about access to the countryside.

Ruth Kelly: In the last 12 months the Inland Revenue have received eight inheritance tax exemption claims involving land. Of these, only one covers land in England not associated with a building where access may in due course be available by virtue of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000; the remainder are outside the territorial scope of the Act, or relate to the land surrounding a historic building, or both. Given this limited overlap, and the other public benefits secured by inheritance tax exemption, we are not persuaded that early change to the inheritance tax rules is called for: but we will keep the matter under review.

National Insurance Numbers

Nick Gibb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the number of employees working in the UK without national insurance numbers.

Ruth Kelly: No estimate has been made of the number of employees working in the UK without national insurance numbers.

Local Government Staff

Julia Drown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much he estimates would be saved on the working families tax credit and other benefits if local government staff were paid a rate of 5 an hour.

Ruth Kelly: No reliable estimate can be made except at disproportionate cost.

Identity Cards

Nick Gibb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how fees for an (a) voluntary and (b) compulsory proposed entitlement identity card will be treated in the national accounts.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Mr. Len Cook to Mr. Nick Gibb, dated 24 July 2002
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on treatment of identity cards in the National Accounts. (72115)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) will treat any fees relating to identity cards in the National Accounts according to established international guidelines. ONS have not been asked to offer advice on this subject and will not do so until requested and proposals are clearly specified.

Strikes

Hywel Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many strikes due to industrial dispute have occurred in the UK in the past 10 years; and what the (a) location and (b) duration was of those that went beyond six weeks.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 22 July 2002
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Hywel Williams, dated 24 July 2002
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question about the number and location of strikes due to industrial dispute in the UK over the last 10 years. (71789)
	Figures for 19922001 are given below. They cover the number of days that strike action took place; not the number of days that the parties to the dispute were actually in disagreement. Data on the location of stoppages are not available.
	
		Stoppages due to labour disputes in the UK in the last ten years
		
			  Year Total number of stoppages Of which, over 30 days duration 
		
		
			 1992 325 28 
			 1993 211 13 
			 1994 205 4 
			 1995 235 9 
			 1996 244 15 
			 1997 216 7 
			 1998 166 8 
			 1999 205 5 
			 2000 212 5 
			 2001 194 7

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) dates, (b) location and (c) sources were of attributable (i) articles, interviews or contributions for the media, books or other journals and (ii) speeches or presentations made in the public domain, by departmental special advisers since March 2001; who in his Department authorised the activity; and on what date this activity was recorded with the departmental Head of Information.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer the Prime Minister is giving him today.

Public Appointments

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action his Department has taken in response to the comments in the Seventh report by the Commissioner for Public Appointments concerning (a) an independent element in interviews undertaken by HM Treasury and (b) performance assessment systems; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: (a) HM Treasury is already fully compliant with the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments that requires an independent member to form part of any appointments panel. In the past, we have used fully independent members who understand Treasury business, and who are familiar with the nature of the relationship between the Treasury and its public and other bodies. We will ensurefor the futurethat such independent members receive formal training from the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
	(b) We will consider whether it is appropriate to introduce more formal performance assessment processes for any bodies that currently have only informal systems in place.

Pregnancy Statistics

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the incidence per 1,000 population of (a) under-16 pregnancies, (b) 16 to 18-years-old pregnancies, (c) under-16 having abortions and (d) 16 to 18-years-old having abortions in (i) St. Helens, (ii) Merseyside, (iii) the North West and (iv) England in each year since 1996.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 23 July 2002
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Shaun Woodward Esq MP, dated 24 July 2002
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question on incidences per 1,000 population of (a) under 16 pregnancies, (b) 16 to 18-years-old pregnancies, (c) under 16 having abortions and (d) 16 to 18-years-old having abortions in (i) St. Helens (ii) Merseyside (iii) the North West and (iv) England in (A) 1996, (B) 1997, (C) 1998, (D) 1999, (E) 2000 and (F) 2001. (71278)
	The information requested is given in the table.
	
		Conception and abortion rates in St. Helens, Merseyside, North West Region and England 19962001
		
			   Year of occurrence  
			 Area of residence 1996 1997 1998 1999 (26)2000 (26)2001 
		
		
			  Conception rates at ages under 16(27)
			 St. Helens(28) 12.1 11.6 12.3 11.7 11.4 (29) 
			 Merseyside 7.9 8.2 8.5 8.1 8.4 (29) 
			 North West 9.8 8.5 8.9 8.8 8.6 (29) 
			 GOR   
			 England 9.3 8.8 8.8 8.2 8.3 (29) 
			
			  Conception rates at ages 16 to 18(30)
			 St. Helens(28) 88.5 73.6 80.6 97.0 71.5 (29) 
			 Merseyside 73.6 72.4 76.2 75.0 69.1 (29) 
			 North West 72.6 70.8 74.1 69.7 69.8 (29) 
			 GOR   
			 England 64.4 64.1 66.7 64.1 63.4 (29) 
			
			  Conception rates at ages under 16(27)
			 St. Helens(28) 3.8 4.8 3.3 3.6 4.7 4.1 
			 Merseyside 3.0 3.5 3.2 3.3 3.2 3.1 
			 North West 3.8 3.6 3.9 3.8 3.7 3.8 
			 GOR   
			 England 3.9 3.7 4.0 3.8 3.9 3.7 
			
			  Abortion rates at ages 16 to 18(30)
			 St. Helens(28) 23.7 23.5 26.7 26.0 23.0 18.8 
			 Merseyside 24.2 25.7 28.4 27.9 28.5 26.8 
			 North West 22.8 22.8 24.4 23.6 25.9 24.8 
			 GOR   
			 England 22.5 22.7 24.6 24.1 24.6 24.9 
		
	
	(26) Conception data for 2000 and abortion date for 2001 are provisional.
	(27) Rates per 1,000 resident females aged 13 to 15.
	(28) Population denominators are less reliable than for larger areas.
	(29) Not yet available.
	(30) Rates per 1,000 resident females aged 16 to 18.

Advertising

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent on advertising in the last five fiscal years by (a) National Savings and (b) National Statistics.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 7 May 2002, Official Report, column 36W.

Departmental Appointments

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions on which appointments were made by Treasury Ministers in financial year 200102 an additional candidate was added to the shortlist at the request of the Minister.

John Healey: On one occasion in 200102 an additional candidate was put forward to a selection panel, at the request of a Minister, to improve the sectoral and regional balance of the available candidates. The selection panel considered that he merited a place on the shortlist.

Cervical Cancer

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of deaths from cervical cancer occurred in women (a) over the age of 60, (b) between 30 and 59 and (c) under 30 years for (i) 2001 and (ii) 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 23 July 2002
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Dr. Vincent Cable, dated 24 July 2002
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question, on what proportion of deaths from cervical cancer occurred in women (a) over the age of 60, (b) between 30 and 59 and (c) under 30 years for (i) 2001 and (ii) 2002. (72502)
	The latest available data are for deaths occurring in 2000. For that year, figures are shown in the table below.
	
		Deaths from cervical cancer,(31) England and Wales, 2002(32)
		
			 Age No Percent 
		
		
			 Under 30 14 1.3 
			 3059 443 40.0 
			 60 and over 649 58.7 
			 All ages 1,106 100.0 
		
	
	(31) Cancer of the cervix has been defined to the International Classification of Disease, 9th Revision , code ICD9 180.
	(32) Data are for occurrences of death per calendar year.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics. Mortality statistics cause. Series DH2 No.27

Euro Preparations

Tim Loughton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the staff costs are for NHS staff from trusts in the South East Region NHS trusts involved in the possible UK changeover to the euro preparations;
	(2)  if he will provide a breakdown of the non staff costs for health trusts in Sussex involved in possible UK changeover to the euro preparations.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 23 July 2002
	Details of changeover planning work in the national health service were set out in the Sixth Report on Euro Preparations, published on 18 July. Copies of the report are available in the Library of the House.

Euro

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rate of entry he regards as suitable to join the euro.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by the then Financial Secretary, Mr. Boateng on 3 July 2001, Official Report, column 125W.

Euro

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has obtained EU permission to enter the euro without first rejoining the ERM, subject to a referendum.

Ruth Kelly: The Government has no intention of rejoining the ERM.

Euro

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of British overseas trade in 2001 took place using the euro.

Ruth Kelly: Customs and Excise conduct an annual survey of trade invoices used by British business for the import and export of goods between the UK and the rest of the world. The survey indicates the extent to which UK traders use the euro as a means of payment for international trade.
	The results for 2001 are not yet available. They will be detailed in the next Press Release, now scheduled for the 30 July 2002.

Euro

Greg Knight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total cost involved to date in collating, drafting, completing and publishing the National Changeover Plan.

Ruth Kelly: Details of expenditure on changeover planning were included in the Sixth Report on Euro Preparations, published on 18 July 2002. Copies of the report are in the Library of the House.

Euro

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the period the UK should hold steady at his preferred rate for joining the euro before holding a referendum.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the right hon. Member to the comments made by the then Chief Secretary, Andrew Smith on 24 January Official Report, column 99293.

11 Downing Street (Functions)

Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times he has permitted charities to use 11 Downing Street for functions since 1997; and how much money has been raised.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Gentleman to my written answer of 11 July to the hon. Member for Yeovil, (Mr. Laws), Official Report, column 1107W. The funds raised are a matter for the charities concerned.

EU Economy Report

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the document he sent to the EU giving the six monthly report on the UK's economy.

Ruth Kelly: The UK submits an Excessive Deficit return (Article 104 of the Treaty) to the European Commission every September and March. Copies can be found in the Library of the House. The returns are based on figures published in the previous Budget or Pre-Budget Report, and on figures included in the Government deficit and debt under the Maastrict Treaty First Releases issued by the Office for National Statistics in August and February.

Solicitors

Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what accounting procedures exist to log the amount of funds given to solicitors from private practice who are instructed to act for the Treasury.

Ruth Kelly: Direct transactions between the Treasury and solicitors in private practice are recorded in the Department's accounting system against the appropriate account code, together with details of the relevant supplier and the responsible unit within the Department. Other transactions are similarly treated. To distinguish transactions with solicitors in private practice would require a review of every transaction, which would entail disproportionate cost.

Equities

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the (a) real and (b) nominal annual rate of return on UK equities between May 1997 and 16 July 2002.

Ruth Kelly: Between May 1997 and 16 July 2002, the nominal annual rate of return for the FTSE All Share was one per cent. equivalent to a total nominal return of 5.6 per cent. over the period. The annual real rate of return over the same period was 1.1 per cent. equivalent to a total real return of minus 5.8 per cent. over the same period.

Financial Services Offences (Buckingham)

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which (a) companies and (b) individuals in Buckinghamshire have been found to have committed offences by the FSA; and what action was taken in each case.

Ruth Kelly: The FSA assumed its powers and responsibilities as single statutory regulator under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 on 1 December 2001. Where appropriate, it has disciplined under the Act those responsible for conducting financial business in breach of the rules and it has publicised the measures taken. These measures do not include any companies or individuals in Buckinghamshire.

Pension Taxation

Andrew Love: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Inland Revenue review of pension taxation will be completed; whether the report will be published; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: When the Inland Revenue review of pension taxation was commissioned early last year, it was expected to take a couple of years. Work is proceeding well and, when Ministers have considered the proposals, there will be a public consultation exercise in the autumn.

Pension Schemes (Tax Relief)

Andrew Love: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the annual tax relief in each of the last five years received by individuals in (a) final salary, (b) defined contribution, (c) group personal and (d) personal pension schemes; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: A breakdown of tax relief into the categories asked for is not available. However, estimates of the annual cost of tax relief attributable to individual and employer contributions to occupational and personal pension schemes are contained in table T7.9 of Inland Revenue Statistics. The latest version is on the Inland Revenue's website http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/ stats/pensions/pt091.htm

Service Attributable Pensions

John Greenway: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what advice his Department has given to the Ministry of Defence about the eligibility of retired disabled officers in receipt of a pension granted on account of medical unfitness attributable to military service to (a) have their pensions exempted from income tax and (b) be awarded a refund of tax wrongly deducted from their pension; and what advice it gave on whether such entitlement should be backdated to the date of discharge.

Paul Boateng: The Inland Revenue has provided advice over a number of years to the Ministry of Defence on matters relating to the taxation of pensions granted to disabled officers. The Inland Revenue has advised that the tax legislation exempts from income tax:
	retired pay of disabled officers granted on account of medical unfitness attributable to or aggravated by naval, military or Air Force service. Unless a pension was granted because of a disabling condition attributable or aggravated by service, the statutory exemption will not apply.
	The Inland Revenue has further advised that where the Veteran's Agency (VA) or one of its predecessors has made an award in respect of a disability which is attributable to service, it is prepared to treat the VA award and any service pension in payment as one combined and tax exempt pension from the date of the VA award.
	Where tax has been wrongly deducted from an exempt pension, the Inland Revenue has advised that the tax should be refunded and backdated to the date on which an attributable pension was first granted.

Community Development

Don Foster: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 2 July 2002, Official Report, column 286W, on the community development venture capital fund, if he will list those private sector initiatives in which his Department has invested in the last three years, indicating (a) the amount and (b) the purpose.

Nigel Griffiths: I have been asked to reply.
	The UK High Technology Fund has been developed to encourage institutional investment in predominately early stage high technology venture capital funds, and to increase the finance available for investment in technology based businesses. Government cornerstone investment of 20 million enabled a fund of 126.1 million to be raised.
	Regional Venture Capital Funds (RVCFs) are being established to ensure that small businesses in each of the English regions have access to equity based finance in amounts below 500,000, and to demonstrate to institutional investors that robust returns can be made in this sector. 155 million of small scale risk capital is now available from the five funds that have become operational during 2002. 46.75 million of this is Government cornerstone investment.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Paramilitary Symbols

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what actions his Office is taking to address the problem of (a) paramilitary flags, (b) paramilitary murals and (c) kerbstone painting; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The subject you have raised is now a devolved matter and therefore no longer the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Public Inquiries

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his policy is on using 0870 telephone numbers for inquiries by the public to the Department and its agencies.

Jane Kennedy: The Northern Ireland Office does not have a central policy on the use of such telephone numbers.

EU Funding

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the future job security of those employed in the voluntary and community sector after EU funding ceases in 2006;
	(2)  what provision is being made financially to support the voluntary and community sector when EU peace funds cease to be accessible after 2006.

John Reid: The subject matters raised have been devolved and are no longer the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Escaped Prisoners

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the commitments he has given on the future treatment of prisoners on the run when they voluntarily return to the United Kingdom.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answers given to question refs. 63942, 3943 and 63944 from the hon. Member for Grantham and Stamford on 20 June 2002, Official Report, columns 13637W.

Faith Communities

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list projects involving faith communities which are supported by his Department.

Jane Kennedy: There are no projects involving faith communities supported by the Northern Ireland Office.

Police Co-operation

Ian Cawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the agreement between the British and Irish Governments on police co-operation will come into operation.

Jane Kennedy: The agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Ireland on police co-operation was signed in Belfast on 29 April 2002 and was laid before Parliament on 22 July (Cm 5579). It will come into operation when the necessary parliamentary procedures have been completed in both jurisdictions; this may not be until the autumn. In the meantime, both Governments and the two police services will continue to progress work on the various measures required to give it effect.

Forensic Science

Ian Cawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends to publish the accounts of the Forensic Science Northern Ireland for the year 200102.

John Reid: The accounts have been published today and I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Life Sentence Review Commissioners

Ian Cawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends publishing the annual report of the Life Sentence Review Commissioners.

John Reid: The annual report has been published today and I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Parliamentary Questions

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will reply to the question tabled by the hon. Member for Basingstoke on 4 July on the future of the full-time police reserve in Northern Ireland, ref 68440.

Jane Kennedy: The question referred to has now been answered.

Full-time Reserve

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many full time reserve police officers there were in Northern Ireland on 1 April in each year since 1990.

Jane Kennedy: The numbers of full-time reserve police officers in Northern Ireland in each year since 1990 are as follows:
	
		
			  Number of officers 
		
		
			 1990 3,007 
			 1991 2,969 
			 1992 3,072 
			 1993 3,199 
			 1994 3,211 
			 1995 3,181 
			 1996 3,066 
			 1997 2,898 
			 1998 2,963 
			 1999 2,858 
			 2000 2,668 
			 2001 2,459 
			 2002 2,123 
		
	
	Police strengths are calculated at the end of each month. Therefore the figures illustrated in the table reflect the number of full-time reserve officers on 30 April in each year.

Full-time Reserve

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the future of the full-time reserve in Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Gentleman for Lagan Valley on 27 June 2002, Official Report, column 1040W.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Grant Distribution

Paul Burstow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will revise the exemplifications of each of the options set out in Formula Grant Distribution: A Consultation Paper to take account of the comprehensive spending review decisions.

Christopher Leslie: We are not intending to revise the exemplifications set out in the consultation paper, because using the spending review figures would introduce a new source of variation between the figures 200203 and those produced by the options we have set out. This variation would obscure the consultation's focus on options for the new system.

Grant Distribution

Paul Burstow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what the proposed percentage rates are of the floors and ceilings in relation to the transition to the new local government funding methodology set out in Formula Grant Distribution: A Consultation Paper;
	(2)  what options he is considering for the length of the transition period for the new formula grant distribution system.

Christopher Leslie: We will take decisions on the movement between the old and new grant distribution systems, including the duration of the transition and the levels of floors and ceilings, ahead of the 200304 provisional local government finance settlement. As in previous years, we will announce those decisions around the end of November as part of the provisional settlement process.

Grant Distribution

Paul Burstow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will estimate for each London borough the effects of each of the options set out in Chapter 9 of Formula Grant Distribution: A Consultation Paper.

Christopher Leslie: The effects on each London Borough of the options contained in Chapter 9 of Formula Grant Distribution: A Consultation Paper are set out on page 112 of that document.

Grant Distribution

John Redwood: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will set out illustrative grant charges for Wokingham DC and West Berkshire DC for the current year on the assumption that each of his possible changes to grant distribution was taking effect this year.

Nick Raynsford: The question cannot be answered except at disproportionate cost.

Area-based Initiatives

Don Foster: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list for each area-based initiative for which his Department is responsible the amount originally budgeted for in (a) 200001 and (b) 200102, stating in each year what funds budgeted for were not spent and if they were carried forward.

Christopher Leslie: The RCU Area-based Initiative (ABI) website lists 11 ABIs that are currently the responsibility of Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. The details requested are as follows:
	
		 million 
		
			 Area-based Initiative 200001 Carried paforward 200102 Carried forward 
		
		
			 Coalfields 54 16 52 7 
			 Community Chest 0 0 10 3 
			 Community empowerment fund 0 0 12 7 
			 European regional development fund 239 4(33) 204 89 
			 Neighbourhood management 0 0 6 n/a 
			 Neighbourhood renewal fund 0 0 200 n/a 
			
			 Neighbourhood wardens 4 0 5 0 
			 New deal for communities(34) 166 129 240 160 
			 Single regeneration budget 794 69 872 n/a 
			 Street wardens 0 0 5 0 
			 Urban regeneration companies(35) 
		
	
	(33) ERDF funding carried over into the next FY can be called upon at any time during the programming round (200006).
	(34) The partnerships wrote their delivery plans after the provision had been made and planned to spend 49 million in 200001 and 129 million in 200102.
	(35) URCs do not receive any central Government funding. Running costs are met by the main partners themselvesthe local authority, the Regional Development Agency, English Partnerships (in some cases), the private sector and other key partners.
	Note:
	All figures rounded to nearest million.

Improvement and Development Agency

Anthony Steen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the annual cost is of the Improvement and Development Agency to public funds; how many staff have been employed there in each of the last four years; and what evaluation has taken place as to its effectiveness.

Christopher Leslie: The Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) received 14.2 million of revenue support grant for 200203.
	Under the Memorandum of Understanding with the ODPM the Local Government Association is required to assess the IDeA's effectiveness at intervals of no more than five years. The first review is due within the next 18 months.
	The IDeA from time to time receives additional financial support to implement particular projects. For example, with support from the capital modernisation fund it has undertaken work on the preliminary stages of a platform for a national electronic electoral register. In line with other Government-funded IT projects this has been subjected to a Gateway Review process, designed to review the arrangements for leading and managing the project.
	The approved number of permanent full-time staff as at 1 April for each of the last four years were as follows:
	
		
			  Permanent full-time staff 
		
		
			 1999 193.5 
			 2000 185.2 
			 2001 204.0 
			 2002 210.0

Council Housing

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which councils retain control of council housing.

Tony McNulty: The 251 local authorities in England with council housing are in the following list. A few of the 103 authorities which have carried out whole stock transfers continue to own a small number of dwellings.
	Adur
	Alnwick
	Amber Valley
	Arun
	Ashfield
	Ashford
	Aylesbury Vale
	Babergh
	Barking and Dagenham
	Barnet
	Barnsley
	Barrow-in-Furness
	Basildon
	Bassetlaw
	Berwick-upon-Tweed
	Birmingham
	Blaby
	Blackpool
	Blyth Valley
	Bolsover
	Bolton
	Bournemouth
	Bracknell Forest
	Bradford
	Braintree
	Brent
	Brentwood
	Bridgnorth
	Brighton and Hove
	Bristol
	Bromsgrove
	Broxbourne
	Broxtowe
	Bury
	Cambridge
	Camden
	Cannock Chase
	Canterbury
	Caradon
	Carlisle
	Carrick
	Castle Morpet
	Castle Point
	Charnwood
	Cheltenham
	Cherwell
	Chesterfield
	Chester-le-Street
	Chorley
	City of London
	Colchester
	Copeland
	Corby
	Craven
	Crawley
	Crewe and Nantwich
	Croydon
	Dacorum
	Darlington
	Dartford
	Daventry
	Derby
	Derwentside
	Doncaster
	Dover
	Dudley
	Durham
	Ealing
	Easington
	East Devon
	East Riding of Yorkshire
	Eastbourne
	Ellesmere Port and Neston
	Enfield
	Epping Forest
	Exeter
	Fareham
	Fenland
	Forest Heath
	Forest of Dean
	Gateshead
	Gedling
	Gloucester
	Gosport
	Gravesham
	Great Yarmouth
	Greenwich
	Guildford
	Hackney
	Halton
	Hammersmith and Fulham
	Harborough
	Haringey
	Harlow
	Harrogate
	Harrow
	Hartlepool
	Havering
	Herefordshire
	High Peak
	Hillingdon
	Hinckley and Bosworth
	Hounslow
	Hyndburn
	Ipswich
	Isles of Scilly
	Islington
	Kensington and Chelsea
	Kettering
	Kings Lynn and West Norfolk
	Kingston upon Hull
	Kingston upon Thames
	Kirklees
	Lambeth
	Lancaster
	Leeds
	Leicester
	Lewes
	Lewisham
	Lincoln
	Liverpool
	Luton
	Macclesfield
	Maidstone
	Manchester
	Mansfield
	Medway Towns
	Melton
	Merton
	Mid Devon
	Mid Suffolk
	Middlesbrough
	Milton Keynes
	Mole Valley
	New Forest
	Newark and Sherwood
	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
	Newham
	North Cornwall
	North East Derbyshire
	North East Lincolnshire
	North Hertfordshire
	North Kesteven
	North Lincolnshire
	North Norfolk
	North Shropshire
	North Somerset
	North Tyneside
	North Warwickshire
	North West Leicestershire
	Northampton
	Norwich
	Nottingham City
	Nuneaton and Bedworth
	Oadby and Wigston
	Oldham
	Oswestry
	Oxford
	Pendle
	Peterborough
	Plymouth
	Poole
	Portsmouth
	Preston
	Purbeck
	Reading
	Redbridge
	Redditch
	Ribble Valley
	Richmondshire
	Rochdale
	Rochford
	Rossendale
	Rotherham
	Rugby
	Runnymede
	Rushcliffe
	Rutland
	Salford
	Salisbury
	Sandwell
	Scarborough
	Sedgefield
	Sedgemoor
	Sefton
	Selby
	Sheffield
	Shepway
	Slough
	Solihull
	South Bedfordshire
	South Cambridgeshire
	South Derbyshire
	South Gloucestershire
	South Holland
	South Kesteven
	South Lakeland
	South Norfolk
	South Northamptonshire
	South Tyneside
	Southampton
	Southend-on-Sea
	Southwark
	St. Albans
	Stafford
	Stevenage
	Stockport
	Stockton-on-Tees Stoke-on-Trent Stroud Sutton Swindon
	Tamworth
	Tandridge Taunton Deane
	Teesdale
	Teignbridge
	Tendring
	Thanet
	Three Rivers
	Thurrock
	Torridge
	Tower Hamlets
	Trafford
	Uttlesford
	Wakefield
	Walsall
	Waltham Forest
	Wandsworth
	Wansbeck
	Warrington
	Warwick
	Watford
	Waveney
	Waverley
	Wealden
	Wear Valley
	Wellingborough
	Welwyn Hatfield
	West Lancashire
	Westminster
	Wigan
	Winchester
	Wirral
	Woking
	Wokingham
	Wolverhampton
	Worcester
	Wychavon
	Wycombe
	York.

Social Landlords

Karen Buck: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many units were disposed of and what the total value was of disposals by registered social landlords in each year since 1997.

Tony McNulty: The Housing Corporation advises that the number of units disposed of by registered social landlords (RSLs) during the past four years were as follows:
	
		 
		
			  199798 199899 19992000 200001 
		
		
			 100 per cent. sales 
			 Total right-to-buy sales 4,532 4,414 7,245 7,127 
			 Total voluntary sales 550 370 359 213 
			 Total outright sales 554 317 1,008 1,134 
			  
			 Total 100 per cent. sales 5,636 5,101 8,612 8,474 
			  
			 Estimated market value per sale 49,308 51,288 56,661 60,373 
			  
			 Estimated total value of 100 per cent. sales ( million) 277.9 261.6 488.0 511.6 
			
			 Partial sales and other disposals 
			 Shared ownership: total sales of initial shares 6,887 6,209 4,392 3,718 
			 Total demolitions 1,612 1,961 3,335 2,640 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Sales and demolitions data are derived from the Housing Corporation's annual Regulatory and Statistical Return (RSR).
	2. The estimated market values of 100 per cent. sales are derived from CORE (reported sales).
	3. The value of the sale of initial shares sold under Shared Ownership schemes cannot easily be determined.
	4. A monetary value cannot be associated with demolitions.
	5. Sales under the Home Buy scheme are not reported on separately the RSRbut it is likely that they have been included in the Shared Ownership total.
	The market values of sales are estimated rather than actual because not all sales are reported in CORE. Consequently the average value derived from CORE may not be the actual average value of the total sales as reported in the RSR.

Buildings (Height Restrictions)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what height restrictions there are on buildings in major cities throughout the UK.

Tony McNulty: Within the plan-led system of development control, local development plans form the framework within which decisions on proposals for tall buildings are taken. A number of local authorities have, or are developing, policies on tall buildings.

Fire Safety Legislation

Don Foster: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans his Department has to introduce new fire safety legislation.

Christopher Leslie: We intend to publish shortly a consultation document giving details of our proposals to reform fire safety legislation by means of a Regulatory Reform Order under the Regulatory Reform Act 2001. The aim of the reform is to simplify, rationalise and consolidate fire safety law. It would provide for a risk-based approach to general fire safety allowing more efficient, effective enforcement by the fire service and other enforcing authorities. It would reduce the burden on business by removing the confusion caused by overlapping fire safety regimes. We hope to make the Order next year.

Single Housing Inspectorate

Vincent Cable: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much it will cost to set up and run the Single Housing Inspectorate; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: As my right hon. Friend, the Deputy Prime Minister told the House on 18 July (column 441), he intends to establish a single housing inspectorate, building on the excellent work of the Audit Commission and the Housing Corporation. He said he would announce further details later in the year, in the light of discussion with key stakeholders.

English Partnerships

Chris Pond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he proposes to announce the outcome of stage 2 of the review of English Partnerships; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: I am today announcing the conclusion of stage two of the Review of English Partnerships.
	English Partnerships will be a key player in the delivery of my new living communities agenda. As I announced in my Statement to the House on 18 July, I am instructing English Partnerships to use its new role to search out and deliver even more land for housing and sustainable urban development. I also want English Partnerships to help in regenerating those places most badly affected by abandonment and decay.
	Stage one of the Review confirmed English Partnerships as having an important role as an agency for best practice regeneration and development of brownfield land. I am keen that it develops that role, and in particular, I am asking the organisation to draw up plans to meet the following objectives:
	To bring about speedy development of new schemes that can help meet the objectives set out in my policy statement of 18 July. In particular, I am determined to see a step change in both the quantity and the quality of new development in those areas that are facing acute demand pressures. I am therefore today announcing an initial list of their sites on which I wish EP to concentrate, as shown in the table, and we will be consulting on the way forward for those sites. A further list of sites will be announced in the autumn.
	2. To work closely with the Housing Corporation, and with other key agencies including the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs), to ensure effective co-ordination in the delivery of plans for key worker and affordable housing within the wider context of living communities.
	3. To advise on the efficient and effective development of surplus Government land and buildings that may help deliver new communities where most needed.
	4. To help with the assembly of sites for regeneration and sustainable development purposes.
	5. To produce and maintain a national brownfield strategy, to include best practice guidance in the assembly, remediation and development of land and buildings, to help drive forward the Urban Renaissance.
	6. To continue to operate its innovative programmes, including the Coalfields Programme, Millennium Communities, support for Urban Regeneration Companies (URCs), the English Cities Fund, the National Land Use Database (NLUD), Priority Sites Ltd, Land Stabilisation Programme, and Englishsites.com, and to develop new ideas for extending good practice.
	7. To operate a regime that enables developers to use approved 'gap' funding for the delivery of housing projects that would otherwise be commercially unviable.
	
		Initial list of sites
		
			 Location  Site 
		
		
			 Eastern  
			 1) Basildon Gardiners Lane 
			 2) Basildon Dry Street 
			 3) Basildon Five Links (Phase 2) 
			 4) Harlow Sports Centre 
			 5) Hatfield Town Centre 
			 6) Hemel Hempstead Spencers Park 
			 7) Hemel Hempstead Paradise Fields 
			 8) Hemel Hempstead Breakspear 
			 9) Stevenage Town Centre 
			 10) Stevenage West Stevenage 
			 11) Peterborough Various sites 
			   
			 North East  
			 12) Middlesbrough Middlehaven 
			 13) Stockton North Bank 
			 14) Stockton Haverton Hill 
			   
			 North West  
			 15) Liverpool Kings Waterfront 
			 16) Liverpool Liverpool Land Development Co. sites 
			 17) Preston Preston East 
			 18) Preston Cuerdon Regional Business Park 
			 19) Runcorn Castlefields 
			 20) Skelmersdale Town Centre 
			 21) Warrington Omega 
			   
			 Yorkshire and the Humber  
			 22) Sheffield Various sites in the URC 
			   
			 East Midlands  
			 23) Corby Various sites in the URC 
			 24) Northampton SW District Phase 1 
			 25) Northampton SW District Phases 2 and 3 
			   
			 West Midlands  
			 26) Telford Town Centre 
			 27) Telford South Telford (Woodside) 
			 28) Telford Lightmoor 
			 29) Telford East Ketley Millennium Community 
			 30) Telford Lawley 
			   
			 South West  
			 31) Weston-super-Mare RAF Locking 
			   
			 South East  
			 32) Crawley Expansion sites 
			 33) Crawley Town Centre 
			 34) Milton Keynes Central MK / Campbell Park 
			 35) Milton Keynes Oak Grove Millennium Community 
			 36) Milton Keynes Bletchley / MK Stadium 
			 37) Milton Keynes Broughton Atterbury 
			 38) Milton Keynes East Flank 
			 39) Milton Keynes West Flank 
			 40) Milton Keynes National Bowl / East Ashland 
			   
			 London  
			 41) Greenwich Greenwich Peninsula including the Millennium Community 
			   
			 Cross-regional  
			 42) Various Key Worker Housing Initiative sites

Land and Property Programme

Louise Ellman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how the land and property programme budgets were calculated for 200001 and 200102.

Tony McNulty: The allocation of the Land and Property (LP) budget (from April 1999) between the RDAs and the LDA (from July 2000), took into account both their anticipated capital receipts arising from the LP programme and the level of European funding they expected for LP purposes. This was achieved by adding the total of all capital and European receipts to the grant in aid to create a 'gross' LP budget that was then allocated to the RDAs and LDA.
	The European funding was as follows:
	
		 million 
		
			  200001 200102 
		
		
			  European funding 
			 North East 6.800 1.800 
			 North West 12.000 7.800 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 0 0.700 
			 West Midlands 1.000 0.600 
			 East Midlands 0 0 
			 East of England 0 0.400 
			 South West 8.100 8.100 
			 South East 0 0 
			 London 0 0 
			 Total 27.900 19.400 
			
			  Total RDA and LP allocations without the European funding 
			 North East 151.193 162.671 
			 North West 231.186 280.387 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 191.727 246.267 
			 West Midlands 145.880 170.850 
			 East Midlands 93.596 97.439 
			 East of England 43.997 62.956 
			 South West 81.844 91.940 
			 South East 86.364 110.542 
			 London 283.151 298.158 
			 Total 1,308,938 1,521,210 
			
			 Land and Property Allocations   
			 North East 42.924 49.254 
			 North West 74.776 100.388 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 43.223 43.700 
			 West Midlands 40.934 49.428 
			 East Midlands 34.551 30.413 
			 East of England 9.478 14.560 
			 South West 32.758 47.798 
			 South East 20.635 37.966 
			 London 28.626 49.100 
			 Total 327.905 422.607

Transport (Deprived Areas)

Don Foster: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much public money has been invested in transport provision for deprived areas in each of the last five years.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	The following table compares total capital allocations for local transport provision in England with the amounts allocated to those local transport authorities which include within their boundaries one or more of the 88 local authorities in the most deprived areas of England which are eligible for the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF). London is excluded.
	
		 million 
		
			  Total NRF area authorities 
		
		
			 199899 541 256 
			 19992000 540 276 
			 200001 657 367 
			 200102 1,360 698 
			 200203 1,580 817 
		
	
	For London, capital allocations for local transport provision for the years 199899 to 200001 were 82 million, 84 million and 102 million respectively. Of this, 46 million, 47 million and 52 million was allocated to authorities in the most deprived areas which are eligible for the NRF. From 200102 onwards, capital allocations for local transport provision in London have been the responsibility of the Mayor and Transport for London.

Indices of Deprivation

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what indices of deprivation he will use to allocate funds within the proposed new formula for the SSA for education.

David Miliband: I have been asked to reply.
	The options illustrated in the consultation paper issued on 8 July use the following indices of deprivation: the proportion of children of parents on income support; the proportion of children of parents in receipt of working families' tax credit; English as an additional language and ethnicity, as recorded in the annual schools' census; and the proportion of live births less than 2.5kg. All indices have been calculated at local authority level.

Indices of Deprivation

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment has been made of the accuracy of the figures used for deprivation in the DETR report Indices of Deprivation 2000; and what use is made of these figures.

Tony McNulty: The Indices of Deprivation 2000 was based on a robust review of methods and data sources in 1999. Where possible, the data underpinning the indices have been published via the Neighbourhood Statistics website hosted at the Office for National Statistics. The indices have been used to inform the allocation of resources that are directed to areas affected by multiple deprivation, including the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund administered by my Department. They are also used in the formulation of the Government policy towards deprived areas, such as the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal.

Children Act

Karen Buck: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many families with children have been assisted with accommodation through the provisions of the Children Act 1989 in each of the last 10 years.

Jacqui Smith: I have been asked to reply.
	This information is not collected centrally.

Housing Statistics

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a document specifying for each of the last three years (a) the number of people presenting as homeless, (b) the number of council homes sold under the right to buy, (c) the number of new affordable homes completed, (d) the capital value of public investment in affordable housing and (e) the number of new lets of affordable homes, and at a specified date in each of the last three years (i) the number of people on the housing waiting list and (ii) the stock of affordable homes in each (A) English region and (B) housing authority in England.

Tony McNulty: Data on the requested items can be found in various ODPM publications, available in the House of Commons Library and electronically via the ODPM website. The publications provide the data for each local authority in England and regional totals include estimates for any incomplete or missing data.
	(a) ODPM publication Statutory Homelessness: England, quarterly statistical release and associated Supplementary Tables;
	(b) ODPM publication Progress on Council Houses Sales quarterly report;
	(c), (d) and (e) ODPM Housing Investment Programme: Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix 2001 return and Operational Information return for earlier years; Housing Corporation Annual Review report.
	Information about stock completions or acquisitions of additional affordable housing by local authorities (LA), Registered Social Landlords (RSL) and the private sector for rental, outright or shared equity for each year since 199798 were collected for the first time on the 2001 return. Summary data on recent years' LA and RSL lettings is also presented.
	Local authority capital investment in housing, including HRA dwelling stock and support to RSLs, since 199798 is summarised on the 2001 return. Equivalent information about RSLs' expenditure is included in each of the Housing Corporation's Annual Review reports.
	LA and RSL dwelling stock as at 1 April is reported on each year's HIP return. Total private sector dwelling stock is also reported, although there is no centrally collected information on those classified as affordable.

Property Statistics

Neil Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of properties are in (a) Band A, (b) Band B and (c) Band H in (i) Wigan MBC, (ii) the North West Region, (iii) inner-London boroughs, (iv) outer-London boroughs and (v) England.

Christopher Leslie: Information on the number of properties in each council tax band is shown on the valuation list, compiled by the Valuation Office Agency. The number and percentage of properties in council tax Bands A, B and H as at 26 March 2002, for Wigan Metropolitan borough council, the North West Region, inner-London boroughs (including the City of London), outer-London boroughs and England are shown in the table below.
	
		Number and percentage of properties in council tax bands A, B and H
		
			   Number of properties  Number of properties as percentage of total  
			   Band A Band B Band H Total Band A Band B Band H 
		
		
			 Wigan Metropolitan borough council 65,562 28,110 49 131,735 49.8 21.3 0.0 
			 North West Government Office region 1,322,421 563,533 5,612 2,996,664 44.1 18.8 0.2 
			 Outer-London boroughs 53,358 212,568 15,594 1,928,308 2.8 11.0 0.8 
			 Inner-London boroughs (including the City) 55,859 212,013 37,315 1,197,376 4.7 17.7 3.1 
			 England 5,562,268 4,131,021 117,936 21,436,841 25.9 19.3 0.6 
		
	
	Note:
	Percentage figures are subject to rounding.

Open Space and Playing Fields

Claire Ward: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what measures he intends to take to increase the protection for open space and playing fields through the planning system.

Tony McNulty: The Government have today published revised planning policy on open space, sport and recreation. Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) Note 17 replaces PPG17 published in 1991. It contains a range of policies designed to protect and enhance open spaces and sports and recreational facilities.
	PPG17 sets out how the Government expect local authorities to plan for the delivery of high quality open space, sport and recreational facilities in a sustainable manner. The policies it contains are crucial to our efforts to deliver an urban renaissance and rural renewal by ensuring that everyone has access to high quality and well maintained and managed open spaces, sports and recreational facilities. It will be a vital tool in delivering the Government's agenda for sport by providing an up-to-date strategic framework within which local authorities can plan effectively for new sports and recreational facilities. The policies in PPG17 will be supported by Good Practice Guidance on how to plan effectively for open space. This will be published shortly.
	The Government remain fully committed to the protection of playing fields. PPG17 sets strict criteria to limit the circumstances in which playing fields can be developed for non-sporting and recreational purposes. Additionally I intend to reduce the threshold for the size of playing field upon which Sport England must be consulted when a planning application for development is submitted from 0.4ha to 0.2ha. This will enable Sport England to be consulted on planning applications affecting these smaller playing fields, and help to protect these important facilities which are used by young people for the small sided games of football and rugby.

Regional Assemblies

Patrick Hall: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the process for deciding which regions will be the first to hold a referendum on establishing an elected regional assembly.

Nick Raynsford: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 5 July to the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale, West (Mr. Brady). When the announcement is made, a copy will be put in the Library.

Planning Appeals (Castle Point)

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many planning appeals relating to Castle Point were successful in each of the last five years for which statistics are available.

Tony McNulty: The number of planning appeals allowed in Castle Point in each of the last five years were:
	
		
			   Number of planning appeals 
		
		
			 199798 24 
			 199899 29 
			 19992000 13 
			 200001 20 
			 200102 13

Town Planning

David Wright: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what consultations will take place with relevant former new town local authorities on which sites and projects will be designated as strategic under stage two of the review of English Partnerships.

Tony McNulty: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that the Deputy Prime Minister gave today to a question from my hon. Friend, the Member for Gravesham (Chris Pond), announcing a number of sites on which English Partnerships will concentrate.
	There will be consultation, in due course, with the relevant local authorities and other interested parties about the way forward for the sites announced today and over the remaining portfolio

Ministers (Compensation)

Don Foster: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much his Department paid in compensation to Ministers from the former Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions who left Government in June; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: Under the terms of section 4 of the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991, all Ministers (except my right hon. Friends, the Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor) are entitled to a severance payment equal to one quarter of their final ministerial salary on leaving office, provided that the individual has not attained the age of 65 or been appointed to another paid office within a period of three weeks. The salaries of Ministers who left the Government in June are already in the public domain.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the (a) dates, (b) location and (c) sources were of attributable (i) articles, interviews or contributions for the media, books or other journals and (ii) speeches or presentations made in the public domain, by departmental special advisers since March 2001; who in his Department authorised the activity; and on what date this activity was recorded with the departmental Head of Information.

Christopher Leslie: All special advisers' contacts with the media, speeches and presentations must be conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers. All civil servants, including special advisers are expected to keep departmental heads of information informed of contacts with the media. Details of such contacts are for internal purposes only.

Parliamentary Answers

Andrew Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  for how long he retains documents referred to in parliamentary answers on his Department's website;
	(2)  whether it is his policy to ensure that documents referred to in parliamentary answers are available via his Department's website.

Christopher Leslie: My office aims to be as helpful as possible in responding to hon. Members' questions. Where it is helpful to refer hon. Members to other documents as part of the substantive reply, this may be done by making hard copies of documents available in the Libraries of the House, or by reference to material available on the office's website.
	Minimum requirements for the type of documents which should be published on Government websites are set out in guidance issued by the Office of the E-Envoy, 'Guidelines for Government Websites' (Illustrated Handbook for web management teams section 2.2 'What content should be on your website?' and section 2.3 'Cross-government requirements'). In addition to setting out guidelines on documents for inclusion, the guidance explicitly requires Departments to ensure that content of the site as a whole is up to date and current, and where it is necessary to update the content of individual documents, to show the latest date of amendment clearly on the document concerned. Section 1.2.7 deals with the issue of Record management and the Office of the e-Envoy currently has a consultation paper out on archiving websites. The purpose of this draft annexe to the Illustrated Handbook is to provide government website managers with a framework towards developing within their website management policy suitable procedures and systems to assist in the management, appraisal and preservation of electronic records. A copy of this draft is available online at http://www.e-envoy.gov.uk:/ webguidelines.htm
	A copy of the Guidelines for UK Government websites is available at http://www.e-envoy.gov.uk/ webguidelines.htm

Crichel Down Rules

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to bring forward proposals to change the Crichel Down rules.

Tony McNulty: The Government's policy statement entitled Compulsory Purchase Powers, Procedures and Compensation; the way forward, published on 18 July, made it clear that there will be a consultation exercise on the details of a revised set of rules which we envisage will then form the basis for the formulation of statutory rules in due course.

Double Glazing

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many council homes in the UK do not have double glazing; and what is being done to ensure that modernisations to council housing take place as soon as possible.

Tony McNulty: We estimate that approximately 1.3 million council homes (45 per cent.) did not have any double glazing in 2001. This estimate comes from 1996 English House Condition Survey, which showed that two million council homes did not have any double glazing (about 60 per cent. of all council homes), updated by data provided by local authorities on the works they carried out between 1996 and 2001. Final 2001 estimates will be available when the 2001 English Housing Condition Survey results are published later this year.
	A target was set in the 2000 Spending Review to bring all council houses, and those owned by housing associations, up to a set standard of decency by 2010. The commitment to meet this target was reaffirmed in the Deputy Prime Minister's statement on the 2002 Spending Review.

Millennium Dome

Bill Rammell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which Minister will be responsible for taking decisions related to planning applications in respect of the Dome and surrounding developments on the Greenwich peninsula.

John Prescott: Taking account of the constituency interests and other policy responsibilities of Ministers in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), and in order to ensure that the advice set out in the Guidance on Propriety Issues in the Handling of Planning Casework is followed, I have decided that any planning matters arising in respect of the Dome and related developments should be dealt with by Christopher Leslie MP (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State).
	Lord Rooker will be responsible within ODPM for policy issues related to the Dome.

Millennium Dome

Nick Harvey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what representations his Department has had regarding the fitness of Anschutz Entertainment Group to proceed with the deal to hand over the Millennium Dome; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the suitability of the Anschutz Entertainment Group as partner for the Millennium Dome's development; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what processes of due diligence have been undertaken by his Department during the deal to hand over the Millennium Dome to the Anshutz Entertainment Group; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has received no representations about the fitness of Anschutz Entertainment Group to proceed with the deal that was signed on 29 May, other than a number of press inquiries.
	The Anschutz Entertainment Group is part of one of the largest private companies in the United States, and has extensive expertise and experience in delivering world class entertainment facilities. It is, therefore, an eminently suitable partner for the development of the Dome and the continued regeneration of the Greenwich peninsula.
	English Partnerships, which is the contracting party on behalf of the Government, has carried out full due diligence on all relevant counterparties, as is the normal practice for a commercial transaction of this nature.

Millennium Dome

Nick Harvey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of progress with the deal to hand over the Millennium Dome to Anschutz Entertainment Group; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Following the exchange of contracts between English Partnerships and Meridian Delta Limited (MDL) on 29 May, MDL and Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) are continuing to work up their proposals and to consult with stakeholders. They expect to embark on a public consultation exercise early next month, and to submit a planning application in the autumn.

Social Services

Clive Efford: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what level of demand he estimates there will be for social care beds in each London borough area over the next three years; what resources will need to be made available to meet that demand; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) on 1 February 2002, Official Report, columns 62627W. Funding for personal social services will increase by an average of 6 per cent. a year in real terms for each of the next three years.

Foster Care

Clive Efford: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what action he is taking to improve recruitment rates of foster carers for London boroughs; what has been the change in use of agency foster placements (a) for each borough and (b) for London as a whole in the last five years; what steps he is taking to limit the cost of agency foster care placements in London; and what representations he has received on this subject;
	(2)  how many looked-after children there were in the care of each London borough and how many were (a) in borough foster care, (b) fostered with family or friends, (c) in agency foster placements and (d) in care homes in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: I have been asked to reply.
	A table has been placed in the Library which provides total numbers of looked-after children, and the proportion in foster care and in residential care in each London borough for years ending 31 March 1997 to 31 March 2001.
	The breakdown of placements between family and friends care, in-house placements, and agency placements is collected on the SSDA 903 statistical return, a one-third sample of anonymised care histories of looked-after children. In 200001 a breakdown of in-house and agency placements has been collected for the first time. However the resulting figures for these particular placement categories are too small to form a reliable basis upon which to estimate activity for individual London boroughs. Therefore such a breakdown has not been included in the table.
	A national campaign for recruiting foster carers was carried out in 2000 by the Department.
	Local authorities commission placements according to their needs and strategies, and will negotiate with agencies accordingly. It is the responsibility of local authorities to consider and agree the level of payments that it makes to fulfil the needs of those children who require these services.
	The role of independent foster agencies will be reviewed in the context of the current Choice Protects review, announced on 20 March, and in particular in relation to the Government's plans to improve the number and quality of placement options for looked-after children.

Housing Benefit

Vincent Cable: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people claimed housing benefit as a percentage of the (a) population of London and (b) population of the UK in (i) each London constituency and (ii) each London borough in each year since 1995; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply.
	The available information is in the tables.
	
		Housing benefit recipients in each London borough as a percentage of the total population aged 16 or over in the Government office region of London: 1995 to 2002
		
			 London borough 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Barking 0.33 0.33 0.32 0.31 0.3 0.29 0.26 0.26 
			 Barnet 0.36 0.36 0.36 0.34 0.33 0.31 0.29 0.3 
			 Bexley 0.21 0.21 0.22 0.21 0.19 0.18 0.17 0.17 
			 Brent 0.6 0.6 0.57 0.54 0.5 0.43 0.4 0.38 
			 Bromley 0.29 0.29 0.28 0.26 0.25 0.24 0.23 0.22 
			 Camden 0.6 0.6 0.58 0.54 0.51 0.48 0.47 0.46 
			 City of London 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 
			 Croydon 0.44 0.44 0.44 0.44 0.42 0.35 0.37 0.36 
			 Ealing 0.49 0.49 0.46 0.43 0.38 0.38 0.26 0.32 
			 Enfield 0.33 0.33 0.38 0.36 0.35 0.3 0.3 0.3 
			 Greenwich 0.49 0.49 0.49 0.48 0.47 0.38 0.37 0.37 
			
			 Hackney 0.74 0.74 0.76 0.71 0.65 0.41 0.46 0.51 
			 Hammersmith 0.41 0.41 0.39 0.37 0.35 0.31 0.31 0.31 
			 Haringey 0.71 0.71 0.61 0.6 0.56 0.51 0.48 0.42 
			 Harrow 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.19 0.19 0.16 0.15 0.16 
			 Havering 0.21 0.21 0.21 0.2 0.19 0.18 0.17 0.17 
			 Hillingdon 0.28 0.28 0.27 0.26 0.25 0.25 0.24 0.24 
			 Hounslow 0.32 0.32 0.31 0.29 0.26 0.24 0.25 0.24 
			 Islington 0.61 0.61 0.6 0.59 0.6 0.46 0.46 0.45 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 0.33 0.33 0.31 0.28 0.27 0.26 0.24 0.24 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 0.13 0.13 0.12 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			 Lambeth 0.8 0.8 0.74 0.65 0.58 0.6 0.53 0.48 
			 Lewisham 0.64 0.64 0.65 0.6 0.54 0.5 0.47 0.46 
			 Merton 0.22 0.22 0.21 0.2 0.18 0.17 0.16 0.15 
			 Newham 0.69 0.69 0.7 0.67 0.63 0.54 0.51 0.48 
			 Redbridge 0.24 0.24 0.26 0.24 0.23 0.2 0.19 0.19 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 0.17 0.17 0.16 0.15 0.14 0.15 0.13 0.13 
			 Southwark 0.78 0.78 0.75 0.66 0.59 0.53 0.54 0.55 
			 Sutton 0.19 0.19 0.19 0.18 0.17 0.15 0.15 0.13 
			 Tower Hamlets 0.6 0.6 0.59 0.58 0.56 0.54 0.52 0.5 
			 Waltham Forest 0.43 0.43 0.43 0.41 0.35 0.29 0.27 0.31 
			 Wandsworth 0.55 0.55 0.48 0.45 0.41 0.36 0.35 0.34 
			 Westminster 0.48 0.48 0.42 0.39 0.36 0.33 0.3 0.31 
		
	
	
		Housing benefit recipients in each London borough as a percentage of the total population aged 16 or over in Great Britain: 1995 to 2002
		
			 London borough 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.03 0.03 
			 Barnet 0.04 0.05 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 
			 Bexley 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 
			 Brent 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.06 0.05 0.05 0.05 
			 Bromley 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 
			 Camden 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.06 0.06 0.06 0.06 
			 City of London 
			 Croydon 0.05 0.06 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.04 0.05 0.05 
			 Ealing 0.06 0.06 0.06 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.03 0.04 
			 Enfield 0.04 0.04 0.05 0.05 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 
			 Greenwich 0.06 0.06 0.06 0.06 0.06 0.05 0.05 0.05 
			 Hackney 0.09 0.09 0.09 0.09 0.08 0.05 0.06 0.06 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 
			 Haringey 0.09 0.08 0.08 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.06 0.05 
			 Harrow 0.02 0.03 0.03 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 
			 Havering 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 
			 Hillingdon 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 
			 Hounslow 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 
			 Islington 0.08 0.08 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.06 0.06 0.06 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 0.02 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 
			 Lambeth 0.1 0.09 0.09 0.08 0.07 0.08 0.07 0.06 
			 Lewisham 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.07 0.07 0.06 0.06 0.06 
			 Merton 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 
			 Newham 0.08 0.09 0.09 0.08 0.08 0.07 0.07 0.06 
			 Redbridge 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.02 0.02 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 
			 Southwark 0.1 0.1 0.09 0.08 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.07 
			 Sutton 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 
			 Tower Hamlets 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.06 
			 Waltham Forest 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.04 0.04 0.03 0.04 
			 Wandsworth 0.07 0.07 0.06 0.06 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.04 
			 Westminster 0.06 0.06 0.05 0.05 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Housing benefit data for parliamentary constituencies are not available; figures are only available by local authority area.
	2. The data refer to households claiming housing benefit which may be a single person, a couple or a family. More than one benefit household can live in one property, for example two or more adults in a flat or house share arrangement.
	3. The percentages are rounded to two decimal places.
	4. '' indicates that the percentage is statistically negligible.
	5. Figures exclude any housing benefit extended payment cases
	6. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated.
	7. Social security matters in Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
	Sources:
	Housing Benefit Management Information System quarterly 100 per cent. counts taken in February of each year;
	Office for National Statistics mid-year population estimates, 1995 to 2000.

SCOTLAND

Ministerial Visits

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many overseas visits she has undertaken since her appointment; to which countries; to meet which institutions and bodies; and at what cost.

Helen Liddell: holding answer 25 January 2002
	Since my appointment as Secretary of State, I have visited Europe, North America and South East Asia, at an approximate cost of 17,500. My meetings on these visits focused on constitutional and trade issues and the Friends of Scotland initiative.
	All travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the House Library.

Ministerial Private Offices

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the running costs were of (a) her Ministers' private offices, separately identifying expenditure on staff, and (b) her Department in each year from May 1997 to the nearest date for which the information is available.

Helen Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999.
	In the period 1 July 1999 to 31 March 2000, an incomplete year as it was the first for the Department, were 3.6 million, of which 2.0 million were staff costs. The running costs in 200001 were 5.7 million, of which 3.6 million were staff costs.

Litigation

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases (a) her Department and (b) its agencies have defended in (i) industrial tribunals and (ii) the courts in each year since 1997; how many were concluded in their favour; and what the total cost to his Department of litigation was in each year.

Helen Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999.
	My Department has not been involved in any industrial tribunal cases since it was established.

Correspondence

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the target time will be in 200203 for (a) Ministers to reply to letters from hon. Members and (b) officials in her Department to reply to letters received directly from members of the public.

Helen Liddell: My Department's 200203 target time for replying to letters is 15 working days in both instances.

Entertainment Costs

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will list the total amount of money spent by Ministers in her Department since its creation on food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for official entertainment purposes.

Helen Liddell: holding answer 10 April 2002
	The information is not held in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Entertainment Costs

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent by departmental special advisers on food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for official entertainment purposes in each of the last five years.

Helen Liddell: holding answer 10 April 2002
	The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999.
	Since that date, my special advisers have not spent any departmental funds on entertainment.

Press Office

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the total cost of running the Department's press office was in (a) 199697 and (b) the latest year for which figures are available.

Helen Liddell: holding answer 10 April 2002
	The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999.
	The identifiable cost of running the press office in 200102 was 147,244. This does not include certain accommodation and support costs, which are not held separately.

Performance Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland with reference to the 2000 Spending Review service delivery agreement targets, if a three-year rolling audit programme of local authorities by the Food Standards Agency in Scotland began in April 2001; and if a third of Scottish authorities were audited in 200102.

Helen Liddell: This is a matter for Scottish Ministers, but I understand that the local authority audit programme undertaken by the Food Standards Agency Scotland commenced in April 2001. The three-year rolling programme consists of each Scottish local authority receiving an annual partial audit, equating to a full audit over the three-year programme, and the target was met in 200102.

Recruitment

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many net additional staff her Department has recruited in each month since June 2001 at (a) executive officer level and (b) administrative level.

Helen Liddell: My Department has recruited seven net additional staff in the 12-month period from June 2001three at executive officer level: one in September 2001, one in november 2001, one in April 2002; and four at administrative level: two in June 2001, one in November 2001 and one in April 2002.

Press Subscriptions

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will list the magazines and periodicals subscribed to by her Department, stating for each subscription the (a) number of copies taken and (b) annual cost.

Helen Liddell: holding answer 26 April 2002
	My Department subscribes to the following magazines and periodicals:
	
		
			 Title Average number of copies 
		
		
			 Economist 2 
			 European Voice 1 
			 New Statesman 2 
			 Press Gazette 1 
			 Private Eye 2 
			 PR Week 1 
			 Scottish Field 1 
			 The Week 1 
			 Spectator 2 
		
	
	Some titles are cancelled during the recess and the numbers supplied may vary depending on the location of Ministers. The total cost of magazines and periodicals in 200102 was 1,328.

Press Subscriptions

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will list the newspapers subscribed to (a) Monday to Saturday and (b) on Sunday by her Department, stating for each subscription (i) the number of copies taken, and (ii) the annual cost.

Helen Liddell: holding answer 26 April 2002
	My Department subscribes to the following newspapers:
	
		
			 Newspaper Average number of copies 
		
		
			 Aberdeen Press and Journal 2 
			 Business AM 2 
			 Daily Express 3 
			 Daily Mail 4 
			 Daily Mirror 3 
			 Daily Record 5 
			 Daily Star 2 
			 Daily Telegraph 4 
			 Dundee Courier 1 
			 Evening News 1 
			 Evening Standard 2 
			 Evening Times 2 
			 Financial Times 4 
			 Guardian 4 
			 Herald 5 
			 Independent 4 
			 Le Monde 1 
			 Scotsman 5 
			 Sun 4 
			 Times 4 
			 Tribune 1 
			 West Highland Free Press 1 
			 Sunday newspapers  
			 Independent on Sunday 2 
			 Mail on Sunday 2 
			 News of the World 1 
			 Observer 2 
			 Sunday Express 2 
			 Sunday Herald 4 
			 Sunday Mail 3 
			 Sunday Mirror 1 
			 Sunday Post 3 
			 Scotland on Sunday 4 
			 Sunday Telegraph 2 
			 Sunday Times 2 
		
	
	Some newspapers are cancelled during the recess and the numbers supplied vary depending on the location of Ministers. The total cost of newspapers in 200102 was 11,640.

Parliamentary Questions

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of ordinary written questions for her Department were answered within a week of tabling in each month since June 2001; and what proportion of questions for named day received a substantive answer on that day in each month since June 2001.

Helen Liddell: Approximately 6070 per cent. of both types of written question were answered within the required time scales. In view of the large increase in the number of questions being tabled, an upgraded PQ tracking system is being considered as one of the options in improving performance in this area.

Staff Numbers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff were employed by her Department on (a) 2 May 1997 and (b) 31 May 2002.

Helen Liddell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office, on 13 June 2002, Official Report, column 1402W.

National Minimum Wage

Eric Joyce: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many families are in receipt of the national minimum wage in each constituency in Scotland.

Helen Liddell: The information is not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, some 110,000 people across Scotland have benefited from the national minimum wage since it was introduced in April 1999.

Beef Exports (France)

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she plans to have with French representatives concerning the export of beef from the UK to France.

Helen Liddell: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs regularly raises the French Government's illegal ban on British beef with her French counterpart and will continue to do so until the ban is lifted.

Aggregates Levy

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations she has received from quarry operators since the aggregates levy come into effect in April.

Helen Liddell: One representation from the British Aggregates Association has been received since the levy came into effect on 1 April. The Aggregates Levy has been introduced to address the environmental impacts of the extraction and transportation of aggregates, including noise, dust, vibration, visual intrusion, loss of biodiversity and amenity. The levy will result in prices for primary aggregates which better reflect these environmental costs, and so encourage both the use of recycled aggregates as an alternative and more efficient use of aggregates.

Offshore Workers

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations she has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding claims by offshore workers, pursuant to the Court of Appeal's decision Clark (Inspector of Taxes) v. Perks and other appeals; and if she will make a statement.

Helen Liddell: I refer the hon. Member to the answers he has received from my right hon. Friend, the Paymaster General, on this subject.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the (a) dates, (b) location and (c) sources were of attributable (i) articles, interviews or contributions for the media, books or other journals and (ii) speeches or presentations made in the public domain, by departmental special advisers since March 2001; who in her Department authorised the activity; and on what date this activity was recorded with the departmental Head of Information.

Helen Liddell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister.

Temporary Staff

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many employees under contract from temping agencies worked in her Department; and how much was spent on temporary staff (a) as a total and (b) as a percentage of the total staffing budget in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Helen Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999. Since that date my Department has had a number of employees under contract from temping agencies. Details are given in the table.
	
		
			 Year Number of temporary staff Total spend on temporary staff () Percentage of total staffing budget 
		
		
			 19992000 13 38,431 1.9 
			 200001 16 79,643 2.4 
			 200102(36) 19 90,798 2.4 
		
	
	(36) Provisional

Departmental Bodies

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many jobs under the remit of her Department in (a) the core department, (b) non-departmental public bodies, (c) executive agencies and (d) independent statutory bodies, organisations and bodies financially sponsored by her Department and other such organisations, are located in (i) Scotland, (ii) England, excluding Greater London, (iii) Greater London, (iv) Wales, (v) Northern Ireland and (vi) overseas, broken down by (A) whole time equivalent jobs and (B) the percentage per individual department, body or organisation.

Helen Liddell: The information requested is as follows:
	
		Scotland Office
		
			 Location  Number of staff Percentage of Department 
		
		
			 Scotland 86 72 
			 Greater London 33 28 
		
	
	
		The Boundary Commission
		
			 Location  Number of staff Percentage of NDPB 
		
		
			 Scotland 4 100

Ministerial Meetings

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many formal and official inter-ministerial meetings her Department has held with the Scottish Executive since May 1999, broken down by (a) Scottish Executive department, (b) subject and (c) date.

Helen Liddell: Information is not available in the form requested. Ministers from my Department have frequent meetings with Ministers from the Scottish Executive, both formal and informal, covering a broad range of topics.

LPG

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will list the location of each liquefied petroleum gas vehicle filling station in Scotland.

Helen Liddell: The following list (provided by the LP Gas Association) comprises 93 filling stations in Scotland which currently supply LPG:
	AberdeenAberdeen Calor Centre;
	AberdeenFive Mile Garage;
	DyceJohnston Oils Ltd.;
	BalmedieAberdeen Auto Gas;
	DyceDyce Service Station;
	DinnettDinnett Service Station;
	FordounFiddes Bridge Services;
	InverurieGauld Gas;
	LaurencekirkMann Automotive;
	EllonOverton Garage;
	PeterheadPeterhead Motors;
	Portsoy-Portsoy Motors;
	AberdeenWellington Service Station;
	FraserburghUgle Motors;
	DundeeBullionfield Filling Station;
	MontroseMontrose Commercial Motors;
	TarbertKintyre Filling Station;
	ObanOban Service Station;
	ObanTralee Bay Holiday Park;
	StevenstonGlobal (Manufacturing) Ltd.;
	AyrAyr Calor Centre;
	Isle of ArranGlencloy Garage;
	LugtonCustombuilt Vehicles Ltd.;
	IrvineFlogas Irvine;
	DunsAitken-Walker Cars;
	GalashielsBorders Autogass;
	EyemouthEyemouth Service Station;
	EarlstonRhymers Towers Service Station;
	St. BoswellsJohnston Oils Ltd.;
	PeeblesTechauto Ltd.;
	GretnaGretna Services;
	DumfriesSt. Michaels Garage;
	LockerbieCastlehillgate Garage;
	Newton StewartWigtown Road Service Station;
	BallochLomond Autogas;
	DundeeJohnston Oils Ltd.;
	DundeeCaird Park Service Station;
	KilmarnockJohn Forbes Motors;
	KilmarnockGlencairn Service Station;
	KilmarnockTorn Palmer (Scotland) Ltd.;
	MusselburghBetaheat Ltd.;
	LeithCrewe Tool Filling Station;
	EdinburghFlogas Edinburgh;
	EdinburghRussells of Edinburgh Ltd.;
	LongniddrySeton Engineering;
	EdinburghCircle Filling Station;
	EdinburghDreghorn Filling Station;
	GrangemouthEarlsgate Filling Station;
	GrangemouthRefinery Filling Station;
	FalkirkJAB Autogas;
	DunfermlineKingdom Services;
	NewburghClathcard 4 x 4;
	KirkcaldyRandolph Gas Supplies;
	QueensferryForth Road Bridge Filling Station;
	CowdenbeathGleaner Services;
	GlasgowAutogass Ecosse;
	GlasgowStuart Filling Station;
	GlasgowClarksons of Glasgow;
	GlasgowClyde Coin;
	Bridge of WeirEddie Lovett;
	GlasgowExpress Fuels (Scotland) Ltd.;
	PaisleyFlogas Glasgow;
	UddingstonAllans of Uddingston Ltd.;
	GlasgowFullarton Service Station;
	PaisleyGlasgow Airport Filling Station;
	GlasgowHillington Filling Station;
	GlasgowUniverse Filling Station;
	DingwallWestend Filling Station;
	InvernessGo-Gas Depot;
	InvernessS  D Harpers;
	EvantonSkiach Service Station;
	BroraSutherland Arms Garage;
	Isle of LewisEngebret Ltd.;
	Isle of SkyeSutherlands Garage (Broadford) Ltd.;
	AirdrieColston Garage Ltd.;
	RigsideColliershall Motors;
	BellshillLanarkshire Calor Centre;
	CoatbridgeScotcast;
	BiggarAbington Filling Station;
	East KilbrideSpring Autopoint;
	LoanheadMB Autogas Ltd.;
	ElginAllarburn Farm Dairy Ltd.;
	ForresAlves Autos;
	Grantown on SpeyDulnain Bridge Garage;
	KeithKCR Autogas Services;
	ElginTyock Filling Station;
	Perth2Xcel;
	PerthOswald Gas Supplies;
	AberfeldyKing  Sons;
	KinrossWellside Motors;
	PaisleyPaisley  Barrhead Gas;
	StirlingMaxwell Conversions;
	LivingstonDeer Park Filling Station;
	BathgateJohnston Oils Ltd.;
	LivingstonLizzie Brice Filling Station.

Illegal Meat Imports

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she is having with Customs and Excise on (a) detecting the people responsible for importing illegal meat products from China and (b) increasing checks on meat imports coming into Scotland.

Helen Liddell: The Scotland Office has frequent discussions with HM Customs  Excise on a wide range of issues.
	The relevant public authorities, including HM Customs  Excise, are participating in discussions about illegal meat imports and in an action plan to tackle the problem.

Illegal Meat Imports

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he is having with the Scottish Executive on illegally imported meat from China found on sale in shops; and if she will make a statement.

Helen Liddell: The Scotland Office has frequent discussions with the Scottish Executive on a wide range of issues.
	The question of illegally imported meat is the subject of discussions and an action plan involving the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Scottish Executive, HM Customs  Excise and other public authorities.

Employment Statistics

Eric Joyce: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will publish for each constituency in Scotland the (a) actual and (b) percentage change in (i) youth, (ii) long term and (iii) total unemployed since May 1997 and present.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	The National Statistician will write to the hon. Gentleman shortly and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.

ADVOCATE-GENERAL

Correspondence

John Bercow: To ask the Advocate-General what the target time will be in 200203 for (a) ministers to reply to letters from hon. Members and (b) officials in her Department to reply to letters received directly from members of the public.

Lynda Clark: I refer the hon Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

Recruitment

Julian Lewis: To ask the Advocate-General how many net additional staff her Department has recruited in each month since June 2001 at (a) executive officer level and (b) administrative level.

Lynda Clark: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

Staff Numbers

John Bercow: To ask the Advocate-General how many staff were employed by her Department on (a) 2 May 1997 and (b) 31 May 2002.

Lynda Clark: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Minister of State at the Cabinet Office, on 13 June, Official Report, column 1402W.

Overseas Trips

John Bercow: To ask the Advocate-General if she will list the overseas trips on departmental business that have been undertaken in each of the last five years by officials in her Department; and what the (a) cost, (b) purpose and (c) result was in each case.

Lynda Clark: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

TRANSPORT

Ferries (Southern Europe)

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in extending the terms of the Stockholm Agreement to ferries operating in Southern Europe.

David Jamieson: The European Commission's proposal for a directive to extend the Stockholm stability standards to all EU-flagged ro-ro ferries and third country flagged ro-ro ferries calling at EU ports was agreed at Transport Council in June. It will now go to the European Parliament for debate, under co-decision procedures.

Community Councils

Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many community councils were operating in England in (a) 1997 and (b) 2001.

Nick Raynsford: I have been asked to reply.
	Community councils operate in Wales and Scotland. Their counterparts in England are parish councils. 79 new parishes have been created between the years 1997 and 2001.

Mobile Telephones

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to introduce legislation (a) enforcing a ban and (b) introducing a criminal offence for driving while operating a hand held mobile telephone; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: In accordance with our road safety strategy we are keeping the need for new legislation under review.

Aviation Policy

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the Government are evaluating runway options for Heathrow and Gatwick that will provide additional runway capacity in five years or less; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The South East airports consultation document published on 23 July 2002 sets out options for future development of runway capacity in the South East, but none of these options could deliver more runway capacity within five years.

Aviation Policy

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that London Gatwick maintains a network of full service operators and operations to enable passengers from UK regional points who fly into Gatwick to make connections to a network of world-wide services.

David Jamieson: It is a commercial choice for airlines to decide which routes they serve. Gatwick airport offers a range of inter-connecting opportunities which enables passengers from UK regional points to make connections to a variety of world-wide destinations.

Aviation Policy

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many take-off and landing slots have been handed back to the airport co-ordination slot co-ordinator at London Gatwick in the last 12 months, broken down by airlines.

David Jamieson: The information requested is not held by the Department.

Aviation Policy

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many Ministry of Defence airfields have been included in the Government review of UK aviation policy and subsequent consultations; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made to the House on 23 July 2002 by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport. The use of military airfields is considered in the published consultation documents on regional air services and airports. These documents cover the whole of the UK.

Aviation Policy

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many take-off and landing slots have been bought at London Heathrow and Gatwick in the last 12 months, broken down by company.

David Jamieson: The information requested is not recorded.

Aviation Policy

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to hold discussions with airlines giving up slots on re-allocating them through the slot co-ordinators for use by regional air services.

David Jamieson: DfT officials are engaged in ongoing discussions with airlines about regional air services. When an airline gives up a slot, it is returned to the slot pool and allocated by the co-ordinator in accordance with the criteria set out in the Regulations 9593.

Aviation Policy

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Ministry of Defence about opening up more RAF airfields for civil operations; if such openings will be on a full cost recovery basis; and if they will recognise the obligations on other Government owned airfields.

David Jamieson: During the preparation of the consultation documents on the Future of Air Transport in the UK, which was published yesterday discussions were held with MOD about the potential commercial use of some of their airfields. The outcome of those discussions is reflected in the consultation documents.

Aviation Policy

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has ensured that in the negotiations with the EU on changes to the slot allocation rules the existing mechanisms to allow for ring fencing of slots and application of public service obligation protection will be maintained after the change in the rules.

David Jamieson: During Working Group negotiations on the Commission's proposal to amend European Regulation 9593, the UK will argue that the existing mechanisms available for the ring-fencing of slots for regional air services be maintained.

Aviation Policy

David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on recent studies undertaken by his Department on UK-US Government aviation policy options and place the findings of such studies in the Library.

David Jamieson: holding answer 22 July 2002
	The Civil Aviation Authority have undertaken an analysis of UK-US aviation policy options on behalf of the Department. This study is informing the evaluation of those options. It would not be appropriate to place the CAA study in the Library at this time, as to do so might undermine the UK's position if further bilateral aviation talks were to be held.

Runways

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his policy regarding the location of new runways to be built in the South East.

David Jamieson: I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made to the House on 23 July 2002, Official Report, columns 84768 by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Transport.

Passenger Overcrowding

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the level of passenger overcrowding on the railways as the percentage of passengers in excess of capacity was during (a) the morning peak, (b) the evening peak and (c) both peaks together, (i) for each train company and (ii) overall in each of the last three years.

David Jamieson: holding answer 18 July 2002
	The number of passengers now travelling into London each morning are at the highest level for over 10 years. Overcrowding figures for 2001, which were published in June, show a decrease on most lines compared to the previous year. That year, however, showed an increase overall compared to 1999. The figures are:
	
		Per cent. 
		
			AM  PM  AM/PM combined  
			 TOC 1999 2000 2001 1999 2000 2001 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Chiltern 5.4 2.5 2.4 2.0 0.3 0.6 4.0 1.6 1.6 
			 South Central 5.2 6.2 11.2 2.2 2.7 1.0 3.9 4.7 6.9 
			 Connex South Eastern 3.2 3.7 3.2 1.5 1.9 1.3 2.4 2.9 2.3 
			 Great Eastern 4.1 6.4 3.7 1.2 1.4 1.6 2.7 4.1 2.7 
			 c2c 3.1 1.6 0.3 0.1 1.0 0.6 1.7 1.3 0.5 
			 Silverlink 3.0 9.8 8.1 2.0 3.1 3.4 2.5 6.6 5.9 
			 South West Trains 4.7 7.9 6.3 1.7 1.1 2.5 3.4 4.9 4.6 
			 Thames 0.8 1.9 3.3 2.7 1.9 1.6 1.7 1.9 2.5 
			 Thameslink 4.0 4.4 4.3 2.5 2.7 3.9 3.3 3.6 4.1 
			 WAGN 2.4 2.8 2.3 1.0 1.6 1.6 1.8 2.3 2.0 
			 London Total 3.8 5.1 5.0 1.6 1.8 1.7 2.8 3.6 3.6 
			 Scotrail (Forth Bridge) 1.7 3.1 1.0 4.1 2.9 3.2 2.8 3.0 2.1 
		
	
	Note:
	The information is only collected for train operating companies serving London and South East commuter lines and one Scotrail commuter line.

Passenger Overcrowding

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which train operating companies have an overcrowding standard as part of their franchise agreement; and what each such standard is.

David Jamieson: holding answer 18 July 2002
	All train operating companies are required by their franchise agreements to avoid regular, systematic, excessive overcrowding.
	In addition, train operating companies which provide local services into London (South Central, Connex South Eastern, South West Trains, Thameslink, Thames Trains, Chiltern Trains, Silverlink, c2c, First Great Eastern and West Anglia Great Northern) and Scotrail (for Fife/Edinburgh area services only) are required by their franchise agreements to comply with the standards laid down under Passengers in Excess of Capacity. These are the same for each operator and are: not more than 4.5 per cent. in excess of nominal capacity which varies with journey length and rolling stock type; and not more than 3 per cent. overall.

London Underground

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the discussions his Department has held with the EU about the PPP for London Underground and state aid.

David Jamieson: holding answer 17 June 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to Part (a) of my answer of 17 June 2002, Official Report, column 67W.

London Underground

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what the extra money in expenditure on the London underground announced in the spending review will be spent on; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what representations he has received from the consortia involved with the public-private partnership for the London underground about the extra spending announced in the spending review.

David Jamieson: holding answer 18 July 2002
	The spending review takes full account of the Government's commitment to full funding for the first seven-and-a-half years of the tube modernisation plans. A statement of how the Government intend to fund the London underground in the long term was annexed to the draft letters of comfort reported to Parliament by my right hon. Friend the former Secretary of State's Minute of 20 March 2002.
	No representations have been received from the consortia involved with the public-private partnership.

London Underground

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 16 July 2002, Official Report, column 143W, what contingency plans he has for the case where, after the financial close of PPP, a key partner in the Tubelines or Metronet Consortium fails and no replacement partner is found.

David Jamieson: As my answer of 16 July made clear, the PPP contracts allow for changes in the shareholders of the consortia, subject to the consent of London Underground, including changes to the number of shareholders.

London Underground

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out Government spending on London Underground in each of the next three years as a result of the CSR.

David Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I have given to the hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) today.

London Underground

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the overcrowding statistics for (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 to date for the London Underground.

David Jamieson: holding answer 22 July 2002
	This is an operational matter for London Underground (LU), who have informed me that they measure how crowded services are in terms of the percentage chance of boarding a train with:
	(i) all seats full,
	(ii) one person standing for each seated passenger, and
	(iii) two persons standing for each seated passenger.
	LU have provided the information in the table showing this information for 200102 and the first quarter of 200203.
	
		Percentage 
		
			   200102  200203(37)  
			  Peak Off peak Peak Off peak 
		
		
			 Chance of being on a train with all seats full. 53 30 53 27 
			 Chance of being on a train with at least one person standing for each one sitting. 14 4 14 3 
			 Chance of being on a train with at least two people standing for each one sitting. 1 1 1 (38) 
		
	
	(37) First quarter
	(38) Sample is too small to provide a meaningful percentage figure, but is less than 1 per cent.

London Underground

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to send the first payments to London Underground PPP contractors.

John Spellar: The Government will make no direct payments to the PPP contractors. London Underground will pay a monthly Infrastructure Service Charge to the contractors, once the Infrastructure Companies have been transferred to the private sector, following completion of the PPP contracts.

London Underground

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish details of the performance and investment targets set for London Underground in 200203.

John Spellar: The table shows the targets that have been set for London Underground Ltd. in 200203, together with the previous targets, and actual performance achieved at the end of March 2002.
	
		
			 Measure Targeted performance by end March 2002 Actual performance at end March 2002 Targeted performance by end March 2003 
		
		
			 Performance
			 Excess journey time (unweighted) (minutes) 3.63 3.44 3.42 
			 Train kilometres operated (million) 65.6 65.4 67.2 
			 Customer satisfaction(39):
			 Overall evaluation n/a n/a 75 
			 Train service 75 75 (40) 
			
			 Safety and security 80 78 (40) 
			 Staff helpfulness and availability 69 69 (40) 
			 Cleanliness 67 68 (40) 
			 Information 77 76 (40) 
			 
			 Investment
			 Project expenditure ( million) 410 429 587 
			 Project delivery(41):
			 Track renewals (km) 19.5 24.0 25.4 
			 Station upgrades 5 5 3 
			 Station designs n/a n/a 50 
			 Escalator refurbishments 20 19 20 
			 Other asset improvements n/a n/a 4 
		
	
	(39) Average scores out of 100.
	(40) Customer satisfaction scores are being rebased in 200203 to better reflect customers' views of journeys undertaken in the peak periods. Although not set as formal targets the five individual elements of the customer satisfaction scores will continue to be monitored and published by London Underground Ltd.
	(41) A number of other investment works on escalators, rolling stock, signalling, stations and track will also be started, progressed or completed during the year.
	The Government are separately discussing longer-term performance targets for the London Underground with the Mayor as part of the proposed tube modernisation plans.

Railtrack

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action the Government are taking to ensure that Railtrack consults with the relevant local authority before it removes trees from railway property.

David Jamieson: holding answer 22 July 2002
	I understand that Railtrack seek to consult with local authorities and other interested parties wherever practicable.

Railtrack

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent on maintenance of track by Railtrack in each of the financial years since 199697.

John Spellar: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to the Hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) on 18 June 2002, Official Report, column 179W.

Railtrack

Lawrie Quinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the European Commission's decision of 13 February to approve state aid towards the rescue of Railtrack Plc (in administration) has been published.

David Jamieson: The Government informed the house on 13 February 2002 that state aid clearance towards the rescue of Railtrack plc in administration had been given Official Report, column 390W. However the Commission only recently published the decision and copies have been placed in the House Libraries of the House for the record.

Railtrack

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the expenditure on capital account by Railtrack in administration since being placed in administration.

John Spellar: As the administrator holds this information, and not the Department, this is a matter for him.

Railtrack

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money has been drawn down by (a) Railtrack in administration and (b) Network Rail.

John Spellar: 1.9 billion was drawn down from the original Government loan facility, and to date, 1.2 billion has been drawn from the commercial banking facility. The Government loan facility was repaid, with interest, on 25 March 2002.

Railway Vandalism

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 25 June 2002, Official Report, column 7723W, on railway vandalism, if he will (a) place a copy of the speech referred to in the Library and (b) state how the Department was represented at the recent National Route Crime Group.

John Spellar: A copy of my speech to the Trespass and Vandalism on the Railways Conference on 17 October 2001 has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
	The Department is not represented on the National Route Crime Group, which is a cross-industry group. However, the Health and Safety Executive and the Strategic Rail Authority are members.

Rail Insurance

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action is proposed to ensure that companies involved in railway repair and maintenance continue to have access to insurance cover liability in respect of their companies' and their employees; and if he will make a statement.

John Spellar: holding answer 21 June 2002
	Railtrack is aware that certain infrastructure maintenance companies have experienced difficulties in renewing insurance cover; and is considering a range of alternative options in response to emerging circumstances and changing market conditions.

Replacement Rails

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average present cost is of relaying one mile of twin track on the UK railway network with replacement rails, and what the cost was five years ago.

John Spellar: holding answer 1 July 2002
	My Department does not possess the information requested. I understand from Railtrack, however, that the cost of rail replacement will vary significantly according to track layout, maximum linespeed, tonnage capacity and other factors relating to particular lines.

Gatwick-Inverness Transport Link

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make a decision on the proposed public service obligation between Gatwick and Inverness.

David Jamieson: holding answer 4 July 2002
	I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport to the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (John Thurso) following yesterday's statement on the future of air transport, Official Report, columns 84768.

Rail Delays

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his reply of 19 December 2001, Official Report, columns 52425W, on rail delays, if he will place copies of the latest updated information in the Library.

David Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 8 July 2002, Official Report, column 665W.

Crossrail

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made for his Department and the Strategic Rail Authority on the benefits of Crossrail; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: Cross London Rail Links has been charged with developing the case for Crossrail, and will be reporting to Ministers, the Mayor of London and the Strategic Rail Authority in October. The project development work will include a full assessment of the benefits Crossrail could deliver in terms of relieving congestion on the existing national rail and underground network, increasing transport accessibility and capacity in London, and its contribution to the national economy.

Crossrail

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations his Department and the Strategic Rail Authority have received on Crossrail proposals from (a) the Royal Docks Cross Rail Group, (b) Crossrail and (c) other groups; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: A number of groups have made representations on Crossrail either to my Department, the Strategic Rail Authority, or Cross London Rail Links Ltd.particularly in response to the CLRL's Stakeholder Consultation document issued in May. The Royal Docks Crossrail Group is one. CLRL will give full consideration to all these representations in reaching a view on a preferred scheme, which will be reported to Ministers, the Mayor of London and the Strategic Rail Authority in October.

Great Western Rail Network

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what investment programmes are planned for the Great Western Rail Network; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority's Strategic Plan sets out its plans for investment in the rail network in the short, medium and longer term.

Rail Fares

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to allow increases in regulated rail fares above the current cap.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 July 2002
	The Strategic Rail Authority issued a consultation paper on fares on 19 July. The document sets out current policy and practice on fares regulation, and invites views. We will review our current policy on fares regulation in the light of responses to this consultation. Copies of the SRA's paper have been placed in the House Library.

Rail Fares

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made as to the changes in the level of unregulated rail fares in comparison to the RPI in each of the last three years; and if he will list those train operating companies that have increased unregulated fares above the RPI, in each of the last two years.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 July 2002
	The level of unregulated fares is a matter for train operating companies. The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) has responsibility for monitoring fare levels and pricing policies. As part of its duties, the Authority has compiled a 'fares index', published in the June (200102 quarter 4) edition of National Rail Trends, available in the House Library. This details the average increase in unregulated fares since January 1999 by class of operator. Information on company specific increases is commercially confidential and is not published by the SRA.

Fatalities

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what value for preventing a fatality is used by (a) his Department and (b) the Highways Agency when assessing cost benefit ratios on (i) the roads and (ii) the railways; and how these are calculated.

David Jamieson: The Department and the Highways Agency use an appraisal figure of 1.14 million (in 2000 prices) per fatality prevented when assessing the costs and benefits of road investments. The Department uses the same appraisal figure of 1.14 million for valuing road and rail fatalities prevented through railway investments. The final decisions on all transport investments are not just based on cost benefit ratios, but a wide range of criteria, namely: environment, economy, safety, accessibility and integration.
	The appraisal value was derived from research into individual's willingness to pay for reductions in highway risk. Full details of the road values used are published annually in Highway Agency's Economics Note No. 1, which is available in the Library of the House and on the Department's website. The value is updated annually for inflation and economic growth.

Public Transport (Taunton)

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the reliability of rail services to Taunton.

David Jamieson: Performance figures for each of the train operating companies are published by the Strategic Rail Authority in their quarterly publication, National Rail Trends, and in more detail in their six-monthly publication, On Track. Copies of these publications are available in the Libraries of the House. The most recent editions of both documents were published on 6 June.

Public Transport (Taunton)

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to encourage the greater use of bus travel (a) within Taunton, (b) within Wellington and (c) in and around Wiveliscombe in Somerset.

David Jamieson: Our policies are aimed at encouraging the greater use of buses in all parts of the country. Implementation at local level is a matter for the local transport authority, in this case, Somerset county council, through its local transport plan. The Department is providing local authorities, including Somerset, with substantially increased capital funding and on-going increases in revenue funding to enable them to plan and implement a range of measures to improve bus services in their areas.
	In addition, Somerset county council has been allocated 1.49 million for the support of rural bus services in the current financial year. Since 1998, the council has also been successful with nine bids under the Department's Rural Bus Challenge scheme, including an award last year of 100,000 towards a community transport service for the areas around Wiveliscombe.

Train Protection and Warning System

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what value for preventing a fatality is used in assessments conducted (a) by and (b) for his Department from the fitting of (i) train protection and warning system, (ii) ERTMS level 1, (iii) ERTMS level 2 and (iv) ERTMS level 3.

David Jamieson: The Health and Safety Executive tell me that in the regulatory impact assessment, which they conducted for the train protection and warning system, a figure of 2.65 million (199798 prices) was used for the prevention of fatalities in railway accidents. This is broadly equivalent to the figure of 3.46 million (200203 prices) currently used by Railway Safety for the prevention of multiple fatalities or where the risks are close to intolerable.
	The report on ERTMS, published earlier this year by Railway Safety and the Strategic Rail Authority, did not use an explicit value for preventing a fatality.
	Following research into the willingness of individuals to pay for reductions in risk and independent expert evidence given to the Ladbroke Grove public inquiry, the Health and Safety Executive no longer encourages the use of a higher figure than that used by the Department for Transport and the Highways Agency for appraising road risk. This is 1.14 million at 2000 prices.

Railway Lines

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of new railway line have been completed in the last year; and how many are planned for each of the next two years.

John Spellar: Railtrack's Network Management Statement estimates 790 km of line renewed in 200102, and 785 km in each of the following two years.

Railway Rolling Stock

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new carriages have been delivered to train operating companies in Britain in the last year.

John Spellar: In the year 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002 a total of 615 new passenger vehicles entered service.

Railway Bridges

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking to ensure that Railtrack and its successor body are undertaking the work necessary (a) to maintain, (b) to clean and (c) to keep free of birds those railway bridges in its ownership; and if he will make statement.

David Jamieson: I understand from Railtrack that their maintenance regime for rail structures includes visual inspection annually and in detail every six years. Annual inspection includes cleaning as required. Railtrack seeks to work in partnership with local authorities to tackle pigeon nuisance and is also currently assessing alternative pigeon deterrents to netting.

Railway Infrastructure (Repointing)

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many square metres of gridland stone work on the railway system have been repointed in each year since 1992.

David Jamieson: My Department does not hold this information.

Railway Speed Restrictions

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many structures on the railtrack system have been subject to speed restrictions in each year since 1992.

David Jamieson: My Department does not hold this information.

Network Rail

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what interest rates have been agreed for the different financial facilities being made available by the SRA to Network Rail.

David Jamieson: The interest rates that would be charged in the unlikely event of a drawdown on the standby credit facilities will be:
	(a) facilities supporting the bridge financing: LIBOR plus 1.5 per cent;
	(b) facilities supporting the financing of legacy costs: LIBOR plus a margin of between 1.5 per cent. to 6 per cent., depending upon the facility drawn upon and the circumstances of the drawdown;
	(c) facility for long-term contingency buffer: LIBOR plus 6 per cent.

Network Rail

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what Railtrack's cost of borrowing was in 200102; and what the cost of borrowing for Network Rail will be;
	(2)  by how much the proposed financing arrangements for Network Rail will increase the buying power of the transport settlement announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 15 July.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 July 2002
	Railtrack's cost of capital was determined by the Rail Regulator. He determined an eight per cent. rate of return (in real terms) in his October 2000 periodic review.
	The interest rate on the finance secured by Network Rail is a commercial matter for the company. Network Rail has been designed to secure a strong investment grade credit rating to raise finance in a cost-effective and efficient manner. It is expected to have a cost of capital substantially lower than that of Railtrack, which will have a significant positive impact on the buying power of the company's income.

Network Rail

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library the documents referred to in the Rail Regulators statement on 27 June on the (a) enhancement refitting, (b) funding and (c) co-operation regime between SRA and Network Rail.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 July 2002
	These documents remain confidential, as Network Rail has yet to conclude its purchase of Railtrack plc shares. Disclosure now could harm Network Rail's competitive position if its bid failed and the administrators then proceeded with inviting bids for a transfer of Railtrack plc's assets under Schedule 7 to the Railways Act 1993. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will review the status of these documents and the information in them if Network Rail's acquisition of Railtrack plc is successfully completed.

Network Rail

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his estimated date is for the first day of trading of Network Rail CLG.

John Spellar: Network Rail have said that it is possible that Railtrack could be released from administration by the end of September.

Road Deaths

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action the Government are taking to reduce the number of road related deaths.

David Jamieson: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to the hon. Member for Leominster (Mr. Wiggin) on 9 July 2002, Official Report, column 805W.

Disabled Parking

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recommendations the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee have made to him in relation to the Disabled Persons Parking Badge Scheme Consultation Paper; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Committee have made a series of recommendations following analysis of responses to the discussion paper, covering eligibility, administration and enforcement. We are currently considering their report together with our colleagues in the devolved Administrations with whom we are working collaboratively on this review.

Alternative Fuels

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that the UK takes a leading role in meeting the European Commission's objective of a 20 per cent. substitution by alternative fuels in the road transport sector by 2020.

David Jamieson: The UK actively promotes the wider use of alternative fuels through the low rates of duty on liquefied petroleum gas, natural gas, biodiesel and hydrogen road fuel; the lower rates of vehicle excise duty and company car tax on alternatively-fuelled vehicles; Enhanced Capital Allowances for investment in compressed natural gas and hydrogen fuel infrastructure; and the TransportAction programmes of grants for purchase of or conversion to alternatively-fuelled cars, buses and goods vehicles. There are also fuel duty exemptions under the Green Fuels Challenge, subject to European agreement, for three pilot projects relating to the capture and use of landfill bio-gas, hydrogen refuelling infrastructure and the use of methanol, with a further round of the Green Fuels Challenge currently in progress, offering support for the pilot testing of further promising alternative fuels.

A46 (Little Beckford)

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ask the Highways Agency to remove the bollards at the pedestrian safety refuge on the A46 at Little Beckford.

David Jamieson: The pedestrian safety refuge and bollards at Little Beckford are part of a general scheme of traffic calming through the village to enable pedestrians to cross the A46 safely. A road safety audit carried out after installation has shown no major problems with the scheme design and the police have not identified any safety concerns as a result of their accident investigations. To remove any of the refuges would reduce the effectiveness of the traffic calming and thus increase the risks to road safety. The Highways Agency will, however, continue to monitor the performance of these measures to ensure that they remain effective.

Intelligent Motor Generator Technology

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the intelligent motor generator technology developed by Ricardo in reducing fuel consumption in road vehicles.

David Jamieson: There are a range of technologies in developmentincluding the intelligent motor generator system developed by Ricardothat promise substantial reductions in vehicle fuel consumption. My Department's New Vehicle Technology Fund is currently assessing proposals from various suppliers of such technology for demonstrating and testing the effectiveness of their vehicles in real-world operating conditions. The results of the projects will be available from the Energy Saving Trust which manages the Fund on behalf of my Department.

Road Schemes (South West)

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for new road schemes in the South West; and what the (a) cost and (b) commencement date is in each case.

David Jamieson: Within the targeted programme of improvements for the Highways Agency the following major schemes (that is schemes costing more than 5 million) are being delivered in the South West area:
	
		
			 Scheme Estimate of cost ( million) Estimated start of construction 
		
		
			 A303 Stonehenge 130 200506 
			 A30 BodminIndian Queens 49 200405 
			 A38 Dobwalls bypass 17 200506 
			 A419 Blunsdon bypass 20 2006 
		
	
	Further schemes may emerge from the London to South West and South Wales Multi-Modal Study.
	In addition, the Highways Agency will deliver a number of small scale schemes aimed at, for example, improving safety. It is estimated that around 11 million will be spent on these schemes this year.

A12 (Colchester)

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects work to be completed on connecting the Colchester northern approach road to the A12.

David Jamieson: Proposals for a junction between this road and the A12 trunk road are included in one of five current applications for planning permissions for comprehensive redevelopment of the site of the former Severalls hospital. The Highways Agency has agreed to the principle of the proposed junction and is currently discussing with the developers details of its design and location. Work is not programmed to begin on site within the next three years.

HGV Lanes

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the strategic routes with HGV lanes.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 July 2002
	There are no lanes in the Highways Agency's strategic road network dedicated solely to the movement of heavy goods vehicles.

Car Use

Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 16 July 2002, Official Report, column 143W, on car use, what evaluation he has made of the impact of the Mayor of London's policies in this regard.

David Jamieson: Road engineering in London is a matter for Transport for London and the London local authorities.

A3 Hindhead

Virginia Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his latest estimate is for (a) the commencement and (b) the completion of construction of the A3 at Hindhead; what representations he has recently received about the improvement scheme there; and what further steps must be completed before its commencement.

John Spellar: There has been no change to the programme for the A3 Hindhead scheme. The Highways Agency is presently assessing bids from contractor/ designer teams to progress the scheme through statutory procedures and construction phases. It is expected that the contract will be awarded in September, that draft orders will be published in the late summer of 2003; and a public inquiry, if required, would be held in 2004. Subject to the satisfactory completion of these statutory procedures, work would start in 2005 and be completed by 2009.
	Amendments to the preferred scheme as a consequence of on-going consultation with the local community were announced last March. Since then 11 representations have been received about the revised proposals. These were either seeking more information on specific local impacts or about changes in traffic patterns on local roads as a result of the scheme.

Variable Road Speeds

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 2 July 2002, Official Report, column 217W, on variable road speeds, if he will place a copy of the report in the Library.

David Jamieson: The trials on the use of variable message signs outside schools formed part of a wider piece of research carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory on behalf of the Department. The results of the trials were unpublished.
	However, my Department is preparing guidance in the form of a traffic advisory leaflet on the use of vehicle activated signs. This new guidance will reflect the results and conclusions of these earlier trials. We expect to publish by the end of the year, and at that time, a copy will be placed in the Library.

Highways Agency Contracts

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research and contract work has been conducted for the Highways Agency since 7 June 2001 by (a) W. S. Atkins, (b) Amey and (c) Balfour Beatty; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The research and contract work that has been conducted for the Highways Agency since 7 June 2001 to the present time by these companies is as follows:
	
		
			 Contract description Approximate value Date awarded and duration 
		
		
			 (a) W.S. Atkins   
			 Research   
			 Provision of research and development advice facilities framework. For design and management of highways structures 700k 7 September 2001, for 3 years 
			
			  General roadworks, including design services 
			 Highways Agency (HA) area 2 managing agent (MA) 25 million Commenced pre-June 2001; runs until 31/3/04 
			 HA area 4 MA 5.8 million p.a. Commenced pre-June 2001; runs until 31/5/03 
			 HA area 6 MA 3.5 million p.a. Commenced 1/9/2001 for 5 years(42) 
			 HA area 10 MA 5 million p.a. 1/7/2002 to 30/6/2006(42) 
			 HA area 11 MA 7 million p.a. Awarded pre-June 2001, ending 30/6/2002 
			 HA area 11 Managing Agent Contractor (MAC)(as member of a joint venture (JV)) 25 million p.a. 1/7/2002 to 30/6/2006(42) 
			 Consultancy design frameworkmidlands Orders of various values 1/7/2001 to 1/6/2006 
			 Consultancy design frameworknorth Orders of various values 9/7/2001 to 1/6/2006 
			 Consultancy design frameworksouth east Orders of various values 1/7/2001 to 1/6/2006 
			 Project management support services framework Orders of various values 1/6/2001 to 1/6/2004 
			 Development control advice (for SW of west midlands area) 750k 27/2/2002, 3 year contract 
			 Tactical traffic control 182k 31/3/2002, 1 year 
			 Consultancy framework arrangement 3 million 15/4/2002, 3 years 
			 Northern development control consultancy 600k 12/6/2002, 3 years 
			 Procedural and technical advice facilities 150k 24/5/2002, 3 years 
			
			 (b) Amey   
			 General roadworks   
			 HA area 6 term maintenance contractor (TMC)(as a member of a JV) 15 million p.a. Runs 1/6/2002 for 5 years(42) 
			 HA area 9 MAC(as a member of a JV) 30 million p.a. Runs 1/7/2002 for 4 years(42) 
			 HA area 10 TMC(as a member of a JV) 20 million p.a. 1/7/2002 for 4 years(42) 
			 HA area 18 TMC 1011 million p.a. Awarded pre-1/6/2002, runs to 1/4/2003 
			 HA area 19 TMC(as member of a JV) 26 million p.a. Awarded pre-1/6/2002, runs to 1/4/2003 
			
			 (c) Balfour Beatty   
			 General roadworks   
			 Midland framework for roads and structures Individual task orders varying in value between 500k-5 million 1/7/20021/7/2006 (extendable by 1 year) 
			 Technology framework agreement Orders of various values 18/9/200117/9/2004(43) 
			 A5 Nescliffe bypass 11 million 10/12/2001completion in 2006 
			 A41 Aston Clinton bypass 21.7 million Awarded 30/3/2001(44) 
			 A303 Stonehenge bypass(as a member of a JV) 136 million 15/3/2002completion in 2013 
			 M1 Wilne Lane to M25, M1 J25 noise barriers and M1 J2430 Notts/Derby renewal of technology (advance works) hybrid 4.8 million 24/9/200121/3/2002 
			 A120 Stansted to Braintree improvements 75.5 million 17/7/2001, runs until spring 2004 
			 HA area 16: northern framework agreement for roads and structures Individual task orders varying in value between 500k and 5 million 1/8/200130/4/2003(44) 
			 HA area 18: framework for roads and structures Individual task orders varying in value between 500k and 10 million 30/6/2002 (extended by 1 year to 30/6/2003) 
		
	
	(42) With options for extensions.
	(43) Extendable by 2 periods of 1 year.
	(44) To be incorporated into a MAC from 1/7/2003

Silverstone Bypass

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 28 June 2002 to the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Foster), Official Report, column 880W, on the Silverstone Bypass, if he will (a) place his letter of direction in the Library, (b) state the component reasons of the wider national interest that justified his decision and (c) state the category of direction; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: A copy of the letter of direction from the then Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions my right hon. Friend the Member for Tyneside, North (Mr. Byers) to the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency has been deposited in the Library.
	The British Grand Prix is an important global showcase for the UK motorsport industry, which is estimated to contribute approximately 5 billion annually to the national economy. In addition it brings about 30 million to the local economy over the Grand Prix weekend. In the light of doubts expressed by the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) about retaining the British Grand Prix at Silverstone because of access problems in previous years, Ministers felt that the wider national interest would be best served by speeding up the Silverstone project and thereby providing the best available road access for this year's event.
	The direction was sought for reasons of economy, efficiency and effectiveness.

Public Highway Closures

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 7 February 2002, Official Report, column 1094W, on public highway closures, when and by which magistrates court Downing street was closed under section 116 of the Highways Act 1980.

John Spellar: I refer the right hon. Member to my answer of 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 538W.

Road Accidents

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average incidence of people (a) killed and (b) seriously injured in road accidents in Great Britain was for 1994 to 1998; and what the average incidence was in disadvantaged communities.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 July 2002
	The Neighbourhood Renewal Unit has designated, for Neighbourhood Renewal Funding, 88 local authorities which include the majority of the most deprived wards in England. Casualty figures are available for these authorities. However, these figures relate to the whole of the authority areas, which may include relatively advantaged areas as well as deprived wards. The averages for these authorities therefore, as shown in the table, do not fully represent the position in the most disadvantaged areas.
	The table provides the average number of people, and the average number of pedestrians, (a) killed and (b) seriously injured in road accidents for 1994 to 1998, together with the rate per 100,000 population. Figures are given for Great Britain, and the average for the 88 most deprived local authorities in England as designated for Neighbourhood Renewal funding.
	
		
			 199498 average Number Rate per 100,000 population 
		
		
			 All casualties   
			 Killed   
			 Great Britain 3,578 6.3 
			 Average for 88 NRF authorities in England(45) 871 4.4 
			
			 Seriously injured   
			 Great Britain 44,078 77.1 
			 Average for 88 NRF authorities in England(45) 13,929 69.8 
			
			 Pedestrian casualties   
			 Killed   
			 Great Britain 1,008 1.8 
			 Average for 88 NRF authorities in England(45) 422 2.1 
			
			 Seriously injured   
			 Great Britain 10,662 18.7 
			 Average for 88 NRF authorities in England(45) 5,087 25.7 
		
	
	(45) As designated for Neighbourhood Renewal funding

Road Accidents

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out the criteria for assessing whether a road accident in Great Britain takes place in a disadvantaged community for the purposes of the PSA targets for transport set out in the 2002 Spending Review.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 July 2002
	The Neighbourhood Renewal Unit has designated 88 local authorities which include the majority of the most deprived wards in England. The criteria for the purposes of the road casualty PSA target set out in the 2002 Spending Review will be looking to specifically address the child pedestrian problem within these areas.

Road Accidents

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average incidence of children (a) killed and (b) seriously injured in road accidents in Great Britain was for 1994 to 1998; and what the average incidence was in disadvantaged communities.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 July 2002
	The Neighbourhood Renewal Unit has designated, for Neighbourhood Renewal Funding, 88 local authorities which include the majority of the most deprived wards in England. Casualty figures are available for these authorities. However, these figures relate to the whole of the authority areas, which may include relatively advantaged areas as well as deprived wards. The averages for these authorities therefore, as shown in the table, do not fully represent the position in the most disadvantaged areas.
	The table provides the average number of children under 16, and the average number of child pedestrians, (a) killed and (b) seriously injured in road accidents for 1994 to 1998, together with the rate per 100,000 population under 16. Figures are given for Great Britain, and the average for the 88 most deprived local authorities in England as designated for Neighbourhood Renewal funding.
	
		
			 199498 average/severity Number Rate per 100,000 population 
		
		
			 All child casualties   
			 Killed   
			 Great Britain 260 2.2 
			 Average for 88 NRF authorities in England(46) 87 2.0 
			
			 Seriously injured   
			 Great Britain 6,600 56.5 
			 Average for 88 NRF authorities in England(46) 2,706 63.9 
			
			 Child pedestrian casualties   
			 Killed   
			 Great Britain 133 1.1 
			 Average for 88 NRF authorities in England(46) 56 1.3 
			
			 Seriously injured   
			 Great Britain 4,034 34.5 
			 Average for 88 NRF authorities in England(46) 1,906 45.0 
		
	
	(46) As designated for Neighbourhood Renewal funding
	Note:
	Figures relate to children aged 015

Road Accidents

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how he plans to take forward his responsibility for delivering the public service agreement to reduce fatalities and serious injuries in traffic accidents in Scotland.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 July 2002
	My Department's public service agreement target for reducing road casualties covers Great Britain as a whole. We will continue to work in partnership with the devolved Administration in Scotlandand likewise the one in Walesto achieve the casualty reduction targets set out in the national road safety strategy document Tomorrow's roadssafer for everyone that we agreed and published in March 2000.

Road Accidents

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many children were (a) killed and (b) seriously injured in Great Britain in road accidents in each year from 1994; and what the average was for 1994 to 1998.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 July 2002
	The table gives the number of children (a) killed and (b) seriously injured in Great Britain from 1994.
	
		
			 Year Killed Seriously injured 
		
		
			 1994 299 7,226 
			 1995 270 6,983 
			 1996 270 6,719 
			 1997 255 6,197 
			 1998 206 5,873 
			 1999 221 5,478 
			 2000 191 5,011 
			 2001(47) 218 4,768 
			 199498(48) 260 6,600 
		
	
	(47) The figures for 2001 are provisional.
	(48) Average

Roads

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total length of HGV lanes is on the strategic network.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 July 2002
	There are no lanes in the Highways Agency's strategic road network dedicated solely to the movement of heavy goods vehicles.

Roads

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the roads providing drivers with instant access to network conditions; and what the total length of road is providing this information.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 July 2002
	Variable message signs are being installed on the busiest parts of the motorway network as part of a commitment to have automatic hold up warning systems operating on 30 per cent. of motorways (825km) in England by March 2005. As part of the Traffic Control Centre project, variable message signs are also being installed at strategic points on the English trunk road network to provide drivers with information about major incidents, including, where appropriate, advice on alternative routes. Some local authorities provide similar information on their own roads but those details are not held centrally.

Roads

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of new (a) motorway and (b) trunk roads have been completed in the last two years; and how many are planned for the next two years;

John Spellar: 9.4 miles of new motorway and 13.75 miles of new trunk road were completed in the last two years. 30 miles of new motorway and 66.1 miles of new trunk road are planned for completion in the next two years.

Roads

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what is the estimated number of people living within 600m of a trunk road;
	(2)  what length of strategic road network was widened in each of the last three years;
	(3)  what the average noise level is (a) 100m, (b) 300m and (c) 600m away from a trunk road in each of the last three years;
	(4)  what length of the trunk road network has been given lower-noise surfaces (a) since July 2000 and (b) in each of the last three years.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 July 2002
	I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Tim Matthews to Mrs. Theresa May dated 24 July 2002
	I have been asked by the Transport Minister to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the estimated number of people living within 600m of a trunk road; the length of trunk road that has been given lower-noise surfaces; the average noise level at 100m, 300m and 600m away from a trunk road; and the length of strategic road network widened in each of the last three years.
	The Highways Agency estimates that there are over 2.1 million households located within 600m of the trunk road network. In the National Office of Statistics 'Living In Britain' publication (published 2000) the average number of people per household was 2.3. it is therefore estimated that approximately 4.83 million people live within 600 metres of the trunk road network.
	Since July 2000, 3,257 of the 34,000 trunk road lane kilometres have been laid with lower noise surfacing. Between April 2001 and March 2002 lower noise surfacing was laid on 1,611 lane kilometres and between April 2000 and March 2001 this figure was 1431 lane kilometres. Prior to April 2000 this information was not collated by the Agency.
	It is not possible to provide average noise levels at given distances from a trunk road because the noise level arising from any major road is determined by the characteristics of the traffic it carries, principally the amount of traffic and the percentage of heavy goods vehicles. The type of road surface and other noise mitigation measures will also affect the noise level. Provided that other factors remain the same, the effect of traffic growth year on year is minimal.
	A number of important widening schemes are currently under construction, but none have been completed in the last three years. The M1 to A1 LofthouseBramham Link Road DBFO was completed in May 1999 and this contained within it some stretches of widening of the A1, the M1 and the M62 totalling 9.9km. These stretches were completed by February 1999, just prior to the three-year period in question.
	I hope this is helpful.

Congestion

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to what extent he estimates the Mayor of London's proposals for congestion charging will contribute to the delivery of the public services agreement targets to reduce congestion in large urban areas in England.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 July 2002
	My Department's forecasting work for the 10-year plan assumed that a central London road user charging scheme would be introduced as part of the plan. The impact of individual schemes was not assessed.
	While congestion reduction benefits of road user charging schemes may be significant at the local level in specific urban centres, they are likely to be small within the context of total traffic volumes, and hence the national congestion target, in England as a whole.

Congestion

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how he plans to take forward his responsibility for delivering the Public Services Agreement to reduce congestion in London to below 2000 levels by 2010.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 July 2002
	The Public Service Agreement target relates to large urban areas, including London. The Mayor of London's Transport Strategy and Transport for London's Business Plan set out measures which are designed to tackle congestion. We shall monitor the delivery of them and their impact on congestion and from time to time we shall review the situation with the Mayor.

Congestion

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on progress towards the target of a 15 per cent. reduction in traffic congestion across London, as given in the 10-year plan;
	(2)  what the benchmark is against which he will judge the 10-year plan target of 15 per cent. reduction in traffic congestion across London; and what the subsequent performance statistics relating to this target are.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 July 2002
	There is a Public Service Agreement target to reduce road congestion in large urban areas below 2000 levels by 2010. The 10-year plan listed the 15 per cent. reduction in traffic congestion across London among a number of possible outcomes for transport in London which could be delivered over the life of the plan, but the plan made it clear that the Mayor was responsible for specific priorities. The Mayor's Transport Strategy and Transport for London's Business Plan indicate these priorities. We shall monitor the delivery of them and their impact on congestion and from time to time we shall review the situation with the Mayor.

Congestion

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will publish the next surveys relating to the level of congestion on the inter-urban trunk road network and in large urban areas.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 July 2002
	We hope to publish the year 2000 baseline for congestion in the autumn.

Congestion

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward proposals to restrict the power of the Mayor of London to introduce congestion charging.

John Spellar: No. Parliament has given powers to the Mayor in the Greater London Authority Act 1999 to decide whether or not to introduce congestion charging.

Transport Benchmarks

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the benchmarks are for (a) rail punctuality, (b) rail reliability and (c) rail use against which the PSA targets for transport contained in the 2002 Spending Review are set.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 July 2002
	The benchmark year is 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001, against which we will measure the PSA target to increase rail use, while at the same time securing improvements in rail punctuality and reliability.

Transport Benchmarks

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the level of overcrowding on London trains; and if he will give the benchmark against which he will judge the target of reducing overcrowding to meet the SRA standards by 2010, as indicated in annex 2 of the 10-year plan.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 July 2002
	The Strategic Rail Authority publishes overcrowding statistics on an annual basis. The most recent information was published on 6 June 2002 in the Authority's On Track publication. Overcrowding in London is controlled by the Authority's Passengers In Excess of Capacity (PIXC) mechanism.

Transport Benchmarks

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department will publish local competition benchmarks.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 July 2002
	I assume the hon. Member's question refers to local congestion benchmarks.
	The Department plans to use the national transport model to provide congestion benchmark profiles for different areas and reflecting different needs. Publication will follow once we are satisfied this information will be helpful to local authorities in planning how to tackle local congestion.

Road Maintenance

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made as to (a) the current level and (b) the level as at July 2000 of maintenance backlog for (i) local roads, (ii) bridges and (iii) lighting.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 July 2002
	The maintenance backlogs on local roads in England in 2000 were estimated at 2 billion for carriageways and footways, 750 million for bridges and retaining walls, and 1 billion for street lighting. Estimates of the current backlogs will depend upon data that is being collated at present.

Road Works

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice his Department issues to the Highways Agency with regard to the (a) phasing of roadworks and (b) timing of verge grass cutting.

John Spellar: In line with Road User's Charter targets, the Highways Agency is tasked with ensuring that a minimum of 90 per cent. of works carried out during a year are no more than 2.5 miles long and are at least six miles apart.
	The guidelines for verge grass cutting are set out in the Agency's Trunk Road Maintenance Manual. This sets out minimum standards. Higher standards may be used at particular locations for, for example, safety or environmental reasons.

Buses

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many (a) passenger journeys on buses and (b) bus trips per person per year there were in each of the last three years for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many (a) passenger journeys on local bus services and (b) local bus trips per person there were in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 July 2002
	The Department collects details of passenger journeys on local bus services as part of the annual public service vehicle operators' survey. We do not at present collect information on passenger journeys on other types of bus service.
	Figures for England are as follows:
	
		(a) passenger journeys on local bus services
		
			  Million 
		
		
			 199899 3,719 
			 19992000 3,732 
			 200001 3,761 
		
	
	Source:
	DfT annual survey of Public Service Vehicle operators.
	
		(b) Local bus trips per person per year
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 199698 62 
			 199799 59 
			 19982000 58 
		
	
	Source:
	DfT National Travel Survey. (Three year averages. Excludes trips made by non-householders, for example, tourists and students).

Buses

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, 
	(1)  pursuant to his answer of 2 July 2002, Official Report, column 205W, on bus priority schemes, how many routes were operated by guided buses as part of the London bus initiative in each of the last three years; and what the average level of Government funding was for each route;
	(2)  pursuant to his answer of 23 July 2002, Official Report, column 205W, on bus priority schemes, what the components are of the London Bus Initiative, including the breakdown of the purposes for which funding provided by Government have been used; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 July 2002
	The London Bus Initiative (LBI) is a matter for the Mayor and Transport for London (TfL). I understand from TfL that improvements are specifically tailored to each route but could include:
	Upgraded buses;
	Improved safety measures;
	Improved accessibility;
	New bus priority measures;
	Improved customer information systems;
	Passenger waiting environments;
	Enforcement of bus lanes and other bus stop infringements.
	There are currently no guided bus routes forming part of the LBI.

Buses

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on progress towards the output of (a) improved bus frequencies, (b) enhanced off-peak and (c) enhanced night bus services in London as part of the 10-Year-Plan;
	(2)  what the benchmark is against which he will judge the 10 year plan output of (a) improved bus frequencies, (b) enhanced off-peak and (c) enhanced night bus services in London; and what the subsequent performance statistics relating to this target are.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 July 2002
	The 10-Year-Plan indicated a number of possible outcomes for transport in London which could be delivered over the life of the Plan, while making clear that the Mayor was responsible for specific priorities. In respect of improvements to bus services in London, we shall monitor delivery and from time to time we shall review the situation with the Mayor.

Buses

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 10 July 2002, Official Report, column 976W, on bus services, against what benchmark he will judge whether his Department is meeting its public service agreement to secure improvements in bus punctuality.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 July 2002
	We are considering the most appropriate means of measuring improvements to punctuality in relation to this target.

Buses

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the accessibility indicator (households within 13 minutes walk of a bus stop with a service frequency at least once an hour was for (a) small urban areas three to 25k, (b) small urban areas three to 10k, (c) small urban areas 10 to 25k, (d) median urban areas, (e) large urban areas, (f) metropolitan built-up areas and (g) London boroughs in each of the latest three years for which figures are available.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 July 2002
	The proportion of households within 13 minutes walk of a bus stop with a service frequency of at least once an hour was:
	
		England
		
			   199698 199798 199899 
		
		
			 (a) small urban areas 325k 79 76 75 
			 (b) small urban areas 310k 69 66 63 
			 (c) small urban areas 1025k 88 85 87 
			 (d) medium urban areas 25250k 95 96 96 
			 (e) large urban areas over 250k 98 98 97 
			 (f) metropolitan built-up areas 99 99 98 
			 (g) London boroughs 98 98 98 
		
	
	In 199899 we introduced new funding to improve accessibility to bus services in all rural areas. Since that year, Rural Bus Subsidy Grant has supported 1,800 new or improved bus services in rural England. The grant was extended in 200102 to cover all areas outside towns with a population of 25,000 or more and has now been increased to 47.5 million this financial year. In addition, we are now supporting over 200 rural transport projects under the Rural Bus Challenge scheme, which was also first introduced in 199899.The source is the National Travel Survey and normally three years of data are aggregated. However, the sample numbers for rural areas were exceptionally low for 2000, casting doubts on the validity of using the data for that year within the indicator. To provide consistency across areas, the average for 1998 and 1999 has been used instead of the average for the three years 19982000, as previously published. Figures for the average of 1999 and 2001 will be published when the results for 2001 are released on 25 July.

Buses

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he collates on the frequency of buses in London; and if he will provide such statistics for the last four years.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 July 2002
	Bus services in London are the responsibility of the Mayor and Transport for London (TfL), and my Department does not routinely collect this information. However, I understand from TfL that there are currently 322 high frequency routes (every 12 minutes or better) and 185 low frequency routes. These exclude school routes, mobility services and night services. Figures for previous years are not available.
	Bus service frequencies are planned by TfL to allow the majority of passengers to use the network on a turn-up-and-go basis, with as many routes as possible running every 12 minutes or better. In general, service frequencies will not fall below hourly, including night services where applicable.

Buses and Taxis

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to improve the sustainability and environmental quality of buses and taxis in city areas.

David Jamieson: The Government have introduced a range of fiscal incentives to encourage the wider availability and use of cleaner fuels such as ultra-low sulphur petrol and diesel and road fuel gases such as LPG and natural gas. These incentives are relevant to all road vehicle sectors including buses and taxis.
	My Department's PowerShift and CleanUp programmesadministered by the Energy Saving Trustprovide grants towards the cost of converting vehicles to run on cleaner fuels and towards the cost of fitting emission reduction technologies such as particulate traps. Both taxis and buses have benefited from these programmes.
	In addition, my Department has set up the New Vehicle Technology Fund to support the demonstration of innovative clean, fuel-efficient technologies such as fuel cells and hybrid vehicles. The Department views urban vehicles such as taxis and buses as important early markets for the introduction of these technologies and is currently assessing a number of taxi and bus proposals.

Buses and Taxis

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will establish a working group to review the quality of taxi systems in major English cities.

David Jamieson: While we are responsible for the legislative framework for taxis throughout England and Wales, taxi licensing rests with local authorities; it is up to them to use their licensing powers to ensure that their local taxi system is of a satisfactory standard.

Buses and Taxis

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will license a new class of taxis in inner city areas based on smaller vehicles.

David Jamieson: Under the legislation governing taxi licensing in England and Wales, a taxi must be a vehicle with fewer than nine passenger seats. Within this broad provision, it is up to local licensing authorities to determine which vehicles they consider suitable for licensing as taxis, bearing in mind that taxis are licensed for the purpose of enabling both individuals and small groups to hire them at a rank or hail them in the street.

Buses and Taxis

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the Smart car and similar vehicles as taxis for city areas.

David Jamieson: The Department has made no specific assessment of the Smart car or any similar vehicle for use as taxis in city areas. Decisions about which vehicles to license as taxis are made by local licensing authorities based on their assessment of local conditions and circumstances. They would, of course, want to bear in mind the needs of people who wish to travel in small groups as well as those of disabled people, some of whom may need to travel in a wheelchair.

Trams and Light Rail

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what assessment for the purposes of the 10-year plan he has made as to the change in journey speeds on tram systems in London over the last two years; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the average journey speed on light rail systems in London was at July 2000; and what the benchmark is against which he will judge whether he has achieved the output of faster journeys by light rail in London in the 10-year plan;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the change in journey speeds on light rail systems in London in the last two years; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what assessment for the purposes of the 10-year plan he has made as to the change in journey speeds on guided buses in London over the last two years; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  what the average journey speed on tram systems in London was at July 2000; and what the benchmark is against which he will judge whether he has achieved the output of faster journeys by tram in London in the 10-year plan;
	(6)  what the average journey speed on guided buses in London was at July 2000; and what the benchmark is against which he will judge whether he has achieved the output of faster journeys by guided bus in London in the 10-year plan.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 July 2002
	The 10-year plan indicated a number of possible outcomes for transport in London which could be delivered over the life of the plan, while making clear that the Mayor was responsible for specific priorities. We shall monitor delivery and from time to time we shall review the situation with the Mayor. The outcome in the plan concerning new routes and faster journeys by light rail, tram or guided bus, was a general reference to possible new services which could result from new infrastructure which could be delivered using the plan's resources.

Departmental Reorganisation

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent by his Department in re-branding his Department (a) in total and (b) sub- divided between (i) design of the departmental logo, (ii) design and orders of new stationery, (iii) Department signage and (iv) website design as a result of the Department structural change in June; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: My Department is spending a nominal sum of less than 25,000 from within existing budgets, to make the required changes to these items.

Departmental Reorganisation

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how much has been spent on consultancy fees in relation to the change in Department structure since June; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how much has been spent on changes in office accommodation as a result of the change in Department structure since June; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: So far no changes to office accommodation have been made as a result of the recent machinery of government changes and no money spent to date. Over the summer Ministers and officials will be co-located with Department for Transport staff currently in Great Minster House. This will be more effective and reduce travelling between Great Minster House and Eland House.

Public Transport

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will publish new guidance on the flexible public transport services which the law already allows.

John Spellar: Fresh guidance on the range of flexible public transport services, which can currently be undertaken, will be published later this week. It is aimed at bus, taxi and private hire vehicle operators, local authorities, transport partnerships and voluntary groups because many may not be aware of the opportunities available. We want to encourage greater use of these services because they can bring more benefits both to passengers and providers and help improve public transport provision. We are distributing the document, which is a free publication, widely as well as publishing it on our website. Although this guidance has been produced as a follow up to the rural White Paper and gives examples of schemes being undertaken in rural areas, I would stress that the services apply equally for urban areas.

REPPIR

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the meaning is of the term 'carrier' as used in REPPIR.

David Jamieson: In the Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2001 a 'carrier' is an employer undertaking the transport by rail of any radioactive substance, which includes a carrier for hire or reward and a carrier on own account, and an employer transferring or conveying a radioactive substance through any public place otherwise than by rail, road, inland waterway, sea or air or by means of a pipeline or similar means.

Anglo-Scottish Ministerial Meetings

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many formal and official inter-ministerial meetings his Department has held with the Scottish Executive since May 1999, broken down by (a) Scottish Executive department, (b) subject and (c) date.

David Jamieson: Ministers have held meetings with members of the Scottish Executive on a variety of transport issues since May 1999.

Ministerial Meetings

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when and where Ministers in his Department have held meetings with Ministers and officials of the Irish Government since 1 June 2000; which Ministers were involved in each meeting; which Irish Government Departments were involved in each meeting; and which Ministers and officials from the Irish Government attended each meeting.

David Jamieson: Ministers have held meetings with representatives of the Irish Government on a variety of transport issues since June 2000.

Job Location

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many jobs under the remit of his Department in (a) the core Department, (b) non-departmental public bodies, (c) executive agencies and (d) independent statutory bodies, organisations and bodies financially sponsored by his Department and other such organisations, are located in (i) Scotland, (ii) England, excluding Greater London, (iii) Greater London, (iv) Wales, (v) Northern Ireland and (vi) overseas, broken down by (A) whole-time equivalent jobs and (B) the percentage per individual Department, body or organisation.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

David Jamieson: I would refer the hon. Member to the following table, which shows the position within the Department for Transport at 1 June 2002:
	
		
			  Department for Transport Full-time equivalent  Location 
		
		
			 Core Department(49) 1,700 London, rest of England and Scotland 
			 Executive Agencies(50) 12,212  
			 consisting of:   
			 Driver and vehicle licensing 5,144 England, Scotland and Wales 
			 Driving Standards Agency 1,970 England, Scotland and Wales 
			 Highways Agency 1,770 England 
			 Vehicle Certification Agency 112 UK, USA and Japan 
			 Vehicle Inspectorate 2,116 England, Scotland and Wales 
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency 1,100 UK 
			 Grand Total: 13,912  
		
	
	(49) The core Department for the Department for Transport (DfT) employs approximately 1,700 staff. This figure is composed of staff working on policy areas and includes an estimate of 50 per cent. of the support staff who worked for the former Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR). This figure may change when re-structuring is complete and final decisions have been taken on how support staff are to be allocated to the Office for the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) and Department for Transport (DfT).
	(50) The figures for the Executive Agencies are estimatesbased on their plans for year 200203 and are taken from the DTLR (C) departmental annual report 2002.
	I will write to the hon. Member with details for non-departmental public bodies and independent statutory bodies in due course.It has not been possible to calculate the percentage per individual Department, body or organisation as we do not have a breakdown of the total figures by region.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will answer the question from the hon. Member for Chichester, tabled on 22 May, on the official travel of departmental and non-departmental special advisers.

David Jamieson: We have no record of such a question being tabled to this Department or its predecessor by the hon. Member.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) dates, (b) location and (c) sources were of attributable (i) articles, interviews or contributions for the media, books or other journals and (ii) speeches or presentations made in the public domain, by departmental special advisers since March 2001; who in his Department authorised the activity; and on what date this activity was recorded with the departmental Head of Information.

David Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

Temporary Staff

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many employees under contract from temping agencies worked in his Department; and how much was spent on temporary staff (a) in total and (b) as a percentage of the total staffing budget in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

David Jamieson: The information is not held centrally and is therefore not available.

Travel Concessions

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which local authorities grant a 100 per cent. concession for travel by (a) bus, (b) train and (c) bus and train.

David Jamieson: In England, Crawley, Reading and Redditch provide free concessionary travel for pensioners and disabled people on local bus services only. There are no free concessionary travel schemes that cover only local train travel. Those areas which provide free concessionary travel on local bus services and other transport modes (including travel by local train) for pensioners and disabled people are: the London boroughs (together), Merseyside PTE, West Midlands PTE (pensioners only), and Rutland (disabled people only).
	An additional 81 areas in England provide free concessionary travel for blind people on local bus services; of those areas 39 also offer free concessionary travel on other transport modes.

Transport Schemes

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many transport schemes to address demand in rural areas were funded by the Government in (a) 200001 and (b) 200102.

David Jamieson: Precise information on the number of transport schemes in rural areas is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, funding for transport schemes in rural areas is available through the Government's targeted programme for improvements (TPI) to the trunk road network, the local transport plan (LTP) system and the rural bus challenge.
	Of the schemes in the TPI, one rural bypass has been completed and a further 15 rural bypasses and road improvements are under construction. Under the LTP system, local authorities have been allocated ring-fenced capital funds for major schemes costing over 5 million, some of which will benefit rural areas, and block allocations for smaller scale schemes. Authorities have reported in their LTP annual progress reports that capital allocations for local transport are expected to deliver 31 schemes in rural areas in 200001 and 55 schemes in 200102. This covers rural bypasses on local roads, quiet lane schemes and rural 20-mph zones. The rural bus challenge supported 77 innovative public transport projects in 200001 and 85 such projects in 200102.
	We have also funded improved transport services in rural areas through the rural bus subsidy grant, and the rural transport partnership and parish transport fund schemes administered by the Countryside Agency.

Parliamentary Answers

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  whether it is his policy to ensure that documents referred to in parliamentary answers are available via his Department's website;
	(2)  for how long he retains documents referred to in parliamentary answers on his Department's website.

David Jamieson: My Department aims to be as helpful as possible in responding to hon. Members' questions. Where it is helpful to refer hon. Members to other documents as part of the substantive reply, this may be done by making hard copies of documents available in the Libraries of the House, or by reference to material available on the Department's website.
	Minimum requirements for the type of documents which should be published on Government websites are set out in guidance issued by the Office of the E-Envoy, Guidelines for Government Websites (Illustrated Handbook for web management teams section 2.2 'What content should be on your website?' and section 2.3 'Cross-government requirements'). In addition to setting out guidelines on documents for inclusion, the guidance explicitly requires Departments to ensure that content of the site as a whole is up to date and current, and where it is necessary to update the content of individual documents, to show the latest date of amendment clearly on the document concerned. Section 1.2.7 deals with the issue of record management and the OeE currently has a consultation paper out on archiving websites. The purpose of this draft annex to the Illustrated Handbook is to provide Government website managers with a framework towards developing, within their website management policy, suitable procedures and systems to assist in the management, appraisal and preservation of electronic records. A copy of this draft is available online at: http://www.e-envoy.gov.uk:/webguidelines.htm
	A copy of the guidelines for UK Government websites is available at: http://www.-envoy.gov.uk/webguidelines.htm

Thames Gateway

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding is available to develop transport links to the Thames Gateway.

David Jamieson: Approved transport schemes will be funded from the resources in the 10-year Plan for transport.

Consultations

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what public consultations have been commenced by his Department since 1 April; and what the (a) closing date and (b) website address of each were.

David Jamieson: A list of the public consultations by the Department or its predecessors since 1 April 2002 is listed below, including the closing dates for responses and the website address of each document. The list is based on central records and reflects the public consultations undertaken within the areas for which the Department is currently responsible. Local Transport
	Reform of national regulations and approval schemes for the construction and use of minibuses, buses, and coaches. Issued 15 July 2002. Responses requested by 11 October 2002.
	http://www.local-transport.dft.gov.uk/consult/busconstruct/ index.htm
	Public Consultation on the Proposed Trunk Road Charging Schemes (Bridges and Tunnels) (Keeping of Accounts) (England) Regulations. Published 8 July 2002. Responses requested by 27 September 2002.
	http://www.roads.dft.gov.uk/consult/trunkroad/index.htm Railways
	Establishing a Rail Accident Investigation Branch. Issued 18 July 2002. Responses requested by 10 October 2002.
	http://www.railways.dft.gov.uk/consult/raib/index.htm
	EC Second Railway Package. Issued 24 May 2002. Responses requested 23 August 2002.
	http://www.railways.dft.gov.uk/consult/ecsecond/index.htm
	Exemptions from sections 76 and 77 of the Railways Act 1993 (as amended by section 228 of the Transport Act 2000) and section 248 of the Transport Act 2000. Issued 30 April 2002. Responses requested by 24 June 2002.
	http://www.railways.dft.gov.uk/consult/act/index.htm Roads Vehicles and Road Safety
	Joint consultation with DTI and DEFRADeveloping Energy PolicyKey Issues for Consultation for the White Paper (13 September 2002). Issued
	1 July 2002. Responses requested by 20 September 2002.
	http://www2.dti.gov.uk/energy/developep
	Pedal Bicycles (Safety) Regulations 2002 (20 September 2002) Archive Papers. Issued 21 June 2002. Responses requested by 20 September 2002.
	http://www.roads.dft.gov.uk/consult/pedbicreg/index.htm
	Public Consultation on the Proposed Trunk Road Charging Schemes (Bridges and Tunnels) (Keeping of Accounts) (England) Regulations. Published 8 July 2002. Responses requested 27 September 2002.
	http://www.roads.dft.gov.uk/consult/trunkroad/index.htm
	Joint consultation with HM TreasuryImplementing the Fourth Motor Insurance Directive. Issued 24 April 2002. Responses requested by 17 July 2002.
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ConsultationsandLegislation
	Proposals for regulation changes to enable MOT computerisation. Issued 5 July 2002. Responses requested by 4 October 2002. http://www.roads.dft.gov.uk/consult/mot/index.htm Shipping
	Port Waste Reception Facilities: A consultation paper Issued 23 May 2002. Responses requested by 19 August 2002.
	http://www.shipping.dft.gov.uk/consult/portwaste/index.htm
	Light Dues Review: Meeting the Costs of Marine Aids Issued 10 May 2002. Responses requested by 31 July 2002.
	http://www.shipping.dft.gov.uk/consult/light/index.htm
	Financial Assistance for Moving Freight from Road to Inland Waterway and Maritime Transport Issued 29 April 2002. Responses requested by 26 July 2002.
	http://www.shipping.dft.gov.uk/consult/famcon/index.htm

Consultation Documents

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many consultation documents published in 2001 in (a) electronic and (b) printed form his Department has monitored and evaluated in accordance with the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultations;
	(2)  which consultation documents published by his Department in 2001 were not made available as paper copies;
	(3)  whether his Department has a designated consultation co-ordinator in accordance with the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultations;
	(4)  how many complaints his Department has received about its 2001 consultations in electronic or printed form;
	(5)  how long her Department allowed for consultation on each consultation document it published in 2001 in (a) electronic and (b) printed form;.
	(6)  in what format his Department has published the results of its 2001 written consultations;
	(7)  whether consultation documents published by his Department in 2001 carried the consultation criteria as recommended in the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultations;

David Jamieson: The Department has issued internal guidance to ensure consultation documents comply with the requirements of the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultation. The Department has also appointed a consultation co-ordinator in accordance with criterion 7 of the Code.
	A list of the public consultations undertaken by the Department or its predecessors in 2001 has been placed in the Library, including the dates for which the period for responses opened and closed. The list is based on central records and reflects the public consultations undertaken within the areas for which the Department is currently responsible. More specific details concerning the handling of individual consultation exercises are not held centrally.

Home Zones

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which home zones have been introduced in each of the last three years.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 July 2002
	Information is not held centrally on the home zones introduced in each of the last three years. Figures for the number of home zones proposed by English authorities outside London within their August 2001 Local Transport Plan Annual Progress Reports were given in my answer to the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Foster) on 8 July 2002, Official Report, column 66364W.

Direct Electronic Access

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the transport-related services offered by Government via direct electronic access.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 July 2002
	Publicly available policy statements, reports, guidance, statistics and press notices are made available through the Department for Transport's website: http://www.dft.gov.uk. The Department's consultations are available on the website and facilities are available for response by e-mail.
	The Department already offers a large number of transport-related services via electronic direct access. For example, the portal http://www.motoring.gov.uk brings together the range of Government services for the motorist. Further initiatives are also under way for the future electronic provision of transport-related services.

Galileo Satellite System

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates his Department has made of the economic and transport-related benefits to the United Kingdom and the European Union from the proposed Galileo satellite navigation system.

David Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Blaydon on 12 December 2001, Official Report, column 884W.

Galileo Satellite System

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what investigations have been made by his Department into the possible use of the Galileo satellite system for monitoring the movements of motorists.

David Jamieson: None. Satellite-based positioning systems do not of themselves permit the movement of vehicles to be monitored. However, many commercial intelligent transport systems such as those used for fleet management purposes by operators of commercial vehicles, do make use of satellite-based navigation technology, in conjunction with communication systems. Galileo could improve the performance of such intelligent transport systems.

Galileo Satellite System

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates have been made by his Department of the extent to which the proposed Galileo satellite navigation system will duplicate services available under the Global Positioning System.

David Jamieson: At present the civil community makes use of an open access signal provided by the US Global Positioning System (GPS) but this is subject to US national security interests, is not guaranteed and is not adequate for some safety critical uses such as in air traffic management. GPS is managed and operated by the US Government and funded by the US Department of Defense (DOD). It was developed primarily as a military system with the main purpose of enhancing the effectiveness of US military forces. Through co-operation agreements, the US has made available the GPS military signals to NATO and individual States such as the UK. GPS will continue to be used by NATO and the UK for military applications.
	Galileo has the potential to provide Europe with its own purpose built civil navigation and positioning system which could generate strategic and economic benefits to the UK, Europe and globally. For example, in transport it could help in the development of traffic management and intelligent transport systems across all modes of transport to help control congestion, reduce pollution and contribute to improved safety. Additionally, as it is intended that it should complement and be interoperable with the civil signal (and future planned signals) provided by GPS, users should obtain improved availability and reliability particularly in urban areas. The two systems could provide the integrity of service required for greater use of the technology in safety critical applications such as air traffic management.
	The Government intends to work to ensure that there is co-operation with the US, so that Galileo is interoperable with GPS civil signals and is developed in such a way as to give value for money to UK and European taxpayers and users.

Galileo Satellite System

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total estimated cost is of the Galileo Satellite Navigation System; how much the United Kindgom is contributing; and if he will make a statement on the need for the Galileo system.

David Jamieson: A study carried out last year by PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) on behalf of the Commission has put the capital cost of Galileo at euro 3.4 billion, with annual operating costs of euro 224 million over a 20-year concession period. PWC considered that the programme would require some continued public funding for deployment of the system and payments during operation. Total public sector funding was estimated at some euro 3.8 billion, depending on the private sector assessment of revenues and risks, and subject to the outcome of a competitive tendering process for a public-private partnership (PPP) for the deployment and operational phases.
	The UK is helping to fund Galileo through contributions to the European Space Agency (ESA), which is jointly funding and carrying out the programme with the European Union. For the definition phase (19992000) and some early development work (2001) the Government contributed about 10.4 million. For the development and validation phase (200205) which was approved in March by the EU Transport Council, negotiations within ESA over member states' contributions are still progressing. Funds for the development and validation phase are also being provided from the budget of the European Communities to which the UK contributes.
	Galileo has been discussed at a number of European Councils including the Laeken Council in December last year, which reaffirmed the strategic importance of the project to Europe. The UK has always supported the Council's conclusions on Galileo as it recognises the potential benefits that it could bring to the UK and Europe in transport and other economic and industrial areas.

Former Ministers (Compensation)

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was paid by his Department in compensation to Ministers from the former Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions, who left Government in June; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: Under the terms of section 4 of the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991, all Ministers (except the Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor) are entitled to a severance payment equal to one quarter of their final ministerial salary on leaving office, provided that the individual has not attained the age of 65 or been appointed to another paid office within a period of three weeks. The salaries of Ministers who left the Government in June are already in the public domain.

Government News Network North East

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what occasions press releases have been released on behalf of (a) his Department, (b) the Highways Agency and (c) the Health and Safety Executive by the Government News Network North East since 7 June 2001; and if he will place copies of such press releases in the Library.

David Jamieson: Between 7 June 2001 and 15 July 2002 Government News Network North East (formerly the Central Office of Information North East) issued press releases on behalf of the Department for Transport, the Department for Transport, Local Government and Regions, the Highways Agency and the Health and Safety Executive as follows:
	
		
			  Department  Total despatched  Regionally generated Despatched for national department 
		
		
			 Department for Transport 7 6 1 
			 Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 218 125 93 
			 Highways Agency 40 35 5 
			 Health and Safety Executive 47 26 21 
			 Totals 312 192 120 
		
	
	I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Adventure Holidays

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many deaths have occurred on adventure holidays in the past five years.

David Jamieson: Based on information provided by the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority there have been 31 fatalities (which includes adults) during organised adventure activity holidays since 1997. Of the three deaths at licensed centres, one involved a pre-existing condition and two involved instructors. This figure includes fatalities to UK residents participating in overseas adventure activity holidays that were organised through UK providers as set out in the table.
	
		Number of fatalities during participation in adventure activities from 1 January 1997 to 21 July 2002(51) as recorded by the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority
		
			 Group type Number of fatalities 
		
		
			 Scouts 6 
			 Schools 16 
			 Licensed Centres 3 
			 Others (vol.clubs/army training/unlicensed centres) 6 
			  
			 Total 31 
		
	
	(51) Deaths recorded over a period of five years six months
	Notes:
	1. Of these deaths three are thought to be as a result of a previous and unknown medical condition.
	2. The figures do not include sub-aqua diving fatalities.

Overseas Visits

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the overseas trips on departmental business that have been undertaken in each of the last five years by officials in his Department; and what the (a) cost, (b) purpose and (c) result was in each case.

David Jamieson: All overseas travel by officials in my Department is undertaken in accordance with the principles set out in Chapter 8 of the Civil Service Management Code (available on the Cabinet Office website at http:// www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/civilservice/managementcode/ csmc.pdf)
	The annual expenditure on overseas travel for the last financial year for the predecessor department, the Department for Transport, Local Government and Regions, was 1,804,386.65. This total includes the travel, accommodation and subsistence costs.

Performance Targets

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made towards meeting the targets set out in 'Our towns and cities: the future', relating to (a) journey times on the London underground, (b) road congestion in large urban areas, (c) increasing bus use, (d) increasing rail use, (e) reducing the number of people killed and injured in road accidents and (f) increasing light rail use.

David Jamieson: These targets were set out in the 10 Year Plan for Transport and referred to in Our towns and cities: the future. The progress recorded so far is as follows:
	(a) Journey times on the London Underground PSA target: Cut journey times on London Underground by increasing capacity and reducing delays. Specific targets will be agreed with the Mayor after the PPP has been established.
	London Underground Limited's Reliability Improvement Programme delivered improvements in both indicators last year. In 200102 capacity increased by 2.5 per cent. and delays reduced by 6.7 per cent.
	(b) Road congestion in large urban areas PSA target: Reduce road congestion in large urban areas below current levels by 2010 by promoting integrated transport solutions and investing in public transport and the road network.
	A new congestion monitoring exercise to establish the baselines from which progress will be measured is being finalised and the results will be published in due course.
	(c) Increasing bus use PSA target: Increase bus use from 2000 levels by 10 per cent. by 2010, while improving punctuality and reliability.
	The latest figures for bus use, for 200001, show the number of passenger journeys increased by 1 per cent. across England as a whole. Results for 200102 are due in October. Latest results for service reliability, for the fourth quarter in 200102 show 98.7 per cent. of scheduled local bus mileage in England was completed compared with 98.6 per cent. one year ago.
	(d) Increasing rail use PSA target: Increase rail use in Great Britain by 50 per cent. between 2000 and 2010, while improving punctuality and reliability.
	The latest results for 200102 show an increase of 2.4 per cent. in passenger kilometres travelled compared to the previous year.
	(e) Reducing the number of people killed and injured in road accidents PSA target: Reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured in GB in road accidents by 40 per cent. by 2010 and the number of children killed or seriously injured by 50 per cent. compared with the average for 199498.
	Provisional results for 2001 show a reduction of 14.9 per cent. (total) and 27.3 per cent. (children) compared to the baseline.
	(f) Increasing light rail use PSA target: Double light rail use from 2000 levels by 2010.
	The latest results, for 200001 show a 27 per cent. increase in passenger journeys compared to the previous year. Results for 200102 are due shortly.

Infrastructure Pricing Reform

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the forthcoming European Directive on infrastructure pricing reform.

John Spellar: The European Commission indicated in its European Transport Policy White Paper that it would propose a framework directive in 2002 to establish the principles of infrastructure charging and a pricing structure for all modes of transport.
	The Commission has not yet brought forward its proposals. And, at this stage, it is unclear what it wants to achieve by proposing a common methodology across all modes. Clearly, it would need to be demonstrated that these measures are necessary at a Community level and respect the principles of subsidiarity. It would also be essential that any proposals are based on the appropriate Treaty provisions.

Transport Projects

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the review of the planning process for transport projects to which transport funding announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 15 July are linked.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 July 2002
	This will be the subject of discussions between my Department and that of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Transport Projects

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) benchmark lead times for major infrastructure transport projects and (b) shortened lead times are which form part of the delivery reform measures to which transport funding announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 15 July are linked.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 July 2002
	It is too early to provide precise details of the work to streamline processes for transport planning and delivery, but it is the intention to build on the improvements already made by the Highways Agency, while the SRA will be working with the rail industry to develop special purpose vehicles to deliver major rail projects more effectively.

EU Committees (Scottish Representation)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the EU Scientific Committee for occupational exposure limits to chemical agents is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The European Union's Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limits (SCOEL) is next due to meet on 26 and 27 September 2002. No member or representative of the Scottish Executive either has been or is currently a member of SCOEL. The Health and Safety Executive nominates the two UK members of SCOEL on the basis of their scientific and toxicological background rather than as representatives of the UK Government. The current UK nominees are a Senior Toxicologist at the Medical Research Council Institute for Environment and Health and the Head of the Health and Safety Executive's Industrial Chemicals Unit.

EU Committees (Scottish Representation)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Joint Committee on the carriage of goods and passengers by inland waterway (EC-Czech Republic-Republic of Poland-Slovak Republic) is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: I have not been able to identify the Committee referred to by the hon. Member.

EU Committees (Scottish Representation)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the EC-Slovak Republic Joint Transport Committee is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: This Committee is established under the provisions of an agreement between the European Community and the Slovak Republic establishing certain conditions for the carriage of goods by road and the promotion of combined transport. The remit of the Committee is to ensure the proper implementation of the agreement. I am not aware that it has met in recent times or that there are any plans for it to meet in the future. Representatives of the Scottish Executive have not beenand would not in the future bemembers of the Committee as the matters for which it has responsibility are reserved.

EU Committees (Scottish Representation)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the EC-Hungary Joint Transport Committee is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: This Committee is established under the provisions of the Agreement of 12 July 2000 between the European Community and the Republic of Hungary establishing certain conditions for the carriage of goods by road and the promotion of combined transport. The remit of the Committee is to ensure the proper implementation of the agreement. I am not aware that it has met since the conclusion of the Agreement or that there are any plans for it to meet in the future. Representatives of the Scottish Executive have not beenand would not in the future bemembers of the Committee as the matters for which it has responsibility are reserved.

EU (Scottish Representation)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State when the EC-Czech Republic Joint Transport Committee is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: This Committee is established under the provisions of an Agreement between the European Community and the Czech Republic establishing certain conditions for the carriage of goods by road and the promotion of combined transport. The remit of the Committee is to ensure the proper implementation of the Agreement. I am not aware that it has met in recent times or that there are any plans for it to meet in the future. Representatives of the Scottish Executive have not beenand would not in the future bemembers of the Committee as the matters for which it has responsibility are reserved.

EU (Scottish Representation)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the EC-Poland Joint Transport Committee is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: This Committee is established under the provisions of an Agreement between the European Community and Poland establishing certain conditions for the carriage of goods by road and the promotion of combined transport. The remit of the Committee is to ensure the proper implementation of the agreement. I am not aware that it has met in recent times or that there are any plans for it to meet in the future. Representatives of the Scottish Executive have not beenand would not in the future bemembers of the Committee as the matters for which it has responsibility are reserved.

EU (Scottish Representation)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 4 July 2002, Official Report, columns 60607W, when members of the Scottish Executive have attended meetings of the EU Committee on the control of major accident hazards involving dangerous substances (SEVESO II); and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Scottish Executive has not attended meetings of the EU Committee on the control of major accident hazards involving dangerous substances (SEVESO II) since May 1999.
	The mandate of the EU Committee on the control of major accident hazards involving dangerous substances (SEVESO II) is to promote coherent implementation and consistent application of the provisions of the Seveso II Directive throughout the Community. This necessitates close co-operation of the competent authorities of all member states and the European Commission. The committee of competent authority meetings (CCA) provide such a forum. The CCA consists of representatives of the member states and the Commission services. It discusses all issues concerning the implementation of the Seveso II Directive and gives guidance as to their practical application.
	The committee meets twice a year and is attended on behalf of the UK by representatives of the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency. Where appropriate officials from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Scottish Executive and other agencies may also attend.
	In Great Britain a Competent Authority for the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999, which implements the Seveso Directive, has been established. This committee meets twice a year, and its meetings are attended by the Health and Safety Executive, the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency.

General Lighthouse Fund

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport under what terms the General Lighthouse Fund has lent money to operate holiday homes to Trinitas Services; what net rental proceeds have been remitted to the fund; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: holding answer 23 July 2002
	The General Lighthouse Fund has made available to Trinitas Services Ltd. a loan facility up to 1 million for the refurbishment and marketing of the lighthouse cottages under a commercial contract with Rural Retreats Ltd. To date 440,000 has been drawn down against this loan facility.
	The loan is repayable over 10 years and carries an interest rate of 5 per cent. starting after three years. Security is by a Deed of Charge over TSL's interest in each property. The lease provides for ground rents in addition to the interest on the loan. There is no direct rental income. A non executive director of Trinity House Lighthouse Service (THLS) has been appointed to the board of TSL as a nominee of the Lighthouse Service.

General Lighthouse Fund

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the General Lighthouse Fund report and accounts for the financial year 200102 will be published; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: holding answer 23 July 2002
	We expect to publish the General Lighthouse Fund report and accounts for the financial year 200102 in early 2003.

General Lighthouse Fund

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the lighthouse centres opened to visitors over the past two years; what the (a) capital costs, (b) revenue costs and (c) income of each of those centres has been in each of the last two years; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: holding answer 23 July 2002
	The Northern Lighthouse Board has none of its lighthouses opened to visitors over the last two years other than by exceptional special arrangement. The board is currently negotiating with two local trusts one in south-west Scotland and the other in Orkney to reach agreement for regular public access to two lighthouses.
	All of the Trinity House Lighthouse Service visitor centres are operated through third parties and not directly by the Lighthouse Service. The GLF benefits from an agreed share of the profits under each scheme and thus profits and costs are set out in the table.
	
		 
		
			 Lighthouse Income Capital cost 
		
		
			 200001   
			 Alderney 405  
			 Flamborough 370 3,500 
			 Lizard 5,616 3,000 
			 North Foreland 472 2,474 
			
			 Pendeen 797 2,807 
			 Portland Bill 7,746 3,000 
			 South Stack 3,364 26,721 
			 Southwold 30 2,500 
			 Start Point 894 3,307 
			  
			  19,695 40,310 
			 200102   
			 Alderney 466  
			 Flamborough 643  
			 Lizard 5,117  
			 North Foreland   
			 Pendeen 570  
			 Portland Bill 595  
			 South Stack 9,223  
			 Southwold 5,963 2,965 
			 Start Point 251  
			  1,781  
			  
			  23,470 2,965

General Lighthouse Fund

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what investment has been made by the General Lighthouse Fund in the development of the 40 vacant houses owned by Trinity House to turn those dwellings into holiday lettings; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: holding answer 23 July 2002
	The properties are ex lighthouse keepers' cottages and have been empty in recent years. In order to put them in a suitable material state for transferring to Trinitas Services Ltd. it was necessary to bring them up to modern building standards and comply with health and safety regulations. The cost is in the order of 500k which includes reinstatement of kitchens and bathrooms. This cost would have been similar if the cottages had been prepared for sale.

General Lighthouse Fund

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the value is of the General Lighthouse Fund's reserve fund; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: holding answer 23 July 2002
	The General Lighthouse Fund is valued at 64 million as at 22 July 2002. This includes a reserve of 32 million to support pension arrangements.
	The fund is maintained at a level to meet liabilities under Section 211 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, including expenditure on wreck removal, pensions and self insurance of assets.

Transport 10-year Plan

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a list of the 96 major local road and public transport schemes approved under the transport 10-year plan.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 July 2002
	The information requested has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Transport 10-year Plan

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the lines included in the target given in his 10-year plan for an 80 per cent. increase in patronage on intercity lines, at paragraph 6.22, page 49; and if he will publish the relevant patronage levels for each of the last three years.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 July 2002
	The 80 per cent. increase in patronage on intercity lines is an expected outcome over the period of the 10-year plan. There are six operators who run high-speed services between major towns and cities. These are listed in the table, which shows passenger kilometres for these operators over the last three years. These figures are included in the Strategic Rail Authority's annual report.
	
		Passenger Kilometres -- Million
		
			 Long distance operator 19992000 200001 200102 
		
		
			 First Great Western 2,387 2,387 2,428 
			 Great North Eastern Railways 3,931 3,910 3,768 
			 Midland Mainline 1,070 1,091 1,134 
			 Virgin CrossCounty 2,374 2,205 2,423 
			 Virgin West Coast 3,398 3,322 3,177 
			 Anglia 726 666 774 
		
	
	Note:
	The Anglia figure includes both local as well as intercity services
	Source:
	SRA Annual Report
	Passenger kilometres on long-distance operators fell by 8 per cent. following the Hatfield accident, down from 13.2 billion km in 19992000 to 12.1 billion km in 200001. This has been followed by a rise of 7 per cent. to 12.9 billion km in 200102. These figures are included in the Strategic Rail Authority's National Rail Trends publication, the most recent of which was published on 6 June, a copy of which is in the House Library.

Transport 10-year Plan

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library an updated copy of Table A3 from the 10-year transport plan (a) at outturn prices or (b) at today's prices.

David Jamieson: A breakdown of revised 10-year plan spending will be published in the autumn as part of the first year report on the plan.

Public Service Agreement

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason the public service agreement target in respect of the national cycling strategy was removed in the 2002 Comprehensive Spending Review; and what impact he estimates the removal will have on the implementation of the strategy.

David Jamieson: holding answer 22 July 2002
	Although no target for cycling was included in either the 2000 or 2002 public service agreements, the target set out in the 10-year plan for Transport to treble the number of cycling trips from 2000 levels by 2010 remains in place, as does the strategy aimed at delivering it.

Mersey Passenger Transport Authority

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the extent to which his officials consult the Mersey Passenger Transport Authority on questions about the authority.

David Jamieson: holding answer 23 July 2002
	Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority is consulted from time to time in relation to aspects of Government business in which it may have an interest

LORD CHANCELLOR

Members of Parliament (Personal Data)

Eric Forth: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what information is held by her Department on each hon. Member in relation to (a) personal relationships, both current and past, (b) financial status and dealings, (c) connections with companies and interest groups, (d) connections with Governments and (e) published works; and what was held in January 2002.

Yvette Cooper: Ministers and officials in this Department have access to published reference sources, as well as to the information about hon. Members made publicly available by the House authorities, for the purpose of parliamentary business.
	The Department may also hold information in connection with applications for judicial appointments or Queen's Counsel and information that relates to court proceedings.
	Any request to the Department for the disclosure of information relating to individuals are handled in accordance with the principles laid down in the principles of the Data Protection Act 1998.

EU Committees (Scottish Executive Representation)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when the EU Committee on the service in the member state of judicial and extrajudicial documents and on co-operation between the courts of the member states in the taking of evidence in civil or commercial matters is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: There are two separate committees, one relating to the regulation on the service in the member states of judicial and extrajudicial documents and the other relating to the regulation on co-operation between the courts of the member states in the taking of evidence in civil and commercial matters. No meetings are scheduled for the former. The latter will not meet until after the regulation applies from 1 January 2004. It will meet only when it is necessary to review the standard forms in the annexe to the regulation. The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in, discussions at official and Ministerial level, with the Lord Chancellor's Department on the formulation of EU policy which touches on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive. A representative of the Scottish Executive attended the one previous meeting of the former committee and a representative is likely to attend further meetings as well as any meetings of the latter committee.

EU Committees (Scottish Executive Representation)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the EU Committee on the jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and in matters of parental responsibility for children of both spouses and on the jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters (Brussels I and II) is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Consideration of the draft 'Brussels I' and 'Brussels II' Regulations was concluded by the end of 2000 and both Regulations are now in force. The Scottish Executive was fully represented throughout. The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved with discussions on the formulation of EU policy by the Lord Chancellor's Department which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.

Parliamentary Answers

Andrew Turner: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department for how long she retains documents referred to in parliamentary answers on her Department's website.

Rosie Winterton: My Department aims to be as helpful as possible in responding to hon. Members' questions. Where it is helpful to refer hon. Members to other documents as part of the substantive reply this may be done by making hard copies of documents available in the Libraries of the House, or by reference to material available on our Departmental website.
	My Department aims to ensure that it follows guidance issued by the Office of the e-Envoy Guidelines for UK Government Websites and that records are kept for a period appropriate to their use.
	The website does not have any local policies which go beyond the requirement set out in the e-Envoy's guidelines but aims to follow Departmental policy on record management, namely that policy documents are subject to first review after five years after the last-dated correspondence, and second review 25 years after first-dated correspondence.

Bonded Legal Assistance

Dave Watts: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what plans she has to regulate and control solicitors and companies who provide bonded legal assistance; and what plans she has to review her policy on protection for parties to civil actions by bonds.

Rosie Winterton: Solicitors and companies providing legal assistance are regulated by a range of bodies, including the Law Society, the Financial Services Authority and the General Insurance Standards Council. The possibility of further regulation is kept under review.
	Parties to civil actions have a range of methods by which they may fund their litigation. These include public funding, conditional fee agreements, trade union support or the purchase of insurance against the risk of losing and paying costs. Bonds are not one of these methods, as far as the Government are aware.
	Insurance cover is available to protect against the risk of losing and paying costs. The cost of the premium is dependent on the extent of cover, the complexity and type of case and any inherent risk. With effect from 1 April 2000 it has been possible to recover the premium from the losing party as an item of costs, subject to the normal rules of court. Where the court is called on to assess those costs the court will allow only such costs as are reasonable and proportionate.

Rape Trials

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will set up a Thematic inquiry into the way rape trials are dealt with by the judiciary; and if she will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Lord Chancellor has no proposal to set up a Thematic inquiry into the way rape trials are dealt with by the judiciary. The conduct of a rape trial is a matter for the judge in the exercise of his or her judicial discretion.
	To assist those who have to give evidence the Government will be introducing special measures for vulnerable and intimidated witnesses in the Crown court from today. These will be subject to judicial discretion but they will, for example, allow witnesses to give evidence over a live television link from outside the courtroom.

Rape Trials

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department 
	(1)  what procedure there is for removing the authorisation to judges to hear rape trials; and to whom the procedure is available;
	(2)  what authorisation is necessary before a court of appeal judge may hear rape appeals;
	(3)  who decides whether a judge ought to be authorised to hear rape trials; and how the decision is taken;
	(4)  whether there is outside inspection of judges' conduct before they are authorised to hear rape trials;
	(5)  if she will list the judges in the Court of Appeal who were authorised to hear rape trials when they were judges of first instance;
	(6)  if she will list the judges in the (a) High Court and (b) Crown Court who are authorised to hear rape trials.

Yvette Cooper: My noble and learned Friend, the Lord Chancellor, is concerned that only those Judges with the appropriate experience and sensitivity hear rape cases.
	Section 75 of the Supreme Court Act 1981 states that the Lord Chief Justice, with the concurrence of the Lord Chancellor, can, by means of a practice direction, determine the cases or classes of cases suitable for allocation to High Court Judges, Circuit Judges and Recorders. From time to time successive Lord Chief Justices have issued such practice directions. In October 2001 the current Lord Chief Justice, Lord Woolf, issued a practice direction which, again, determined that all High Court Judges and those Circuit Judges and Recorders, approved for that purpose by the Senior Presiding Judge, with the concurrence of the Lord Chief Justice can hear rape cases.
	In practice, primarily those High Court Judges assigned to the Queen's Bench Division hear rape cases. Authorisations of Circuit Judges and Recorders are sought by the Presiding Judge of each Circuit in consultation with the Resident Judge of the relevant Crown court. The Senior Presiding Judge then makes the decision on the basis that the Judge is suitable to try sensitive cases.
	Those Judges selected for authorisation have to attend a Judicial Studies Board seminar on serious sexual offences before they are formally authorised. They also have to attend further seminars from time-to-time. The names of Circuit Judges currently authorised to hear rape cases are listed.
	There is no outside inspection of a Judges' conduct prior to authorisation. If he thinks it appropriate, the Lord Chief Justice can remove an authorisation.
	All 35 Judges of the Court of Appeal were formerly Justices of the High Court and could hear rape cases when they held that office. All Judges of the Court of Appeal can hear rape appeals without any further authorisation.
	Midland circuit
	His Honour Judge Alexander QC
	His Honour Judge Appleby QC
	His Honour Judge Dudley Bennett
	His Honour Judge Richard Benson
	His Honour Judge Brunning
	Her Honour Judge Butler QC
	His Honour Judge Cavell
	His Honour Judge Chapman
	His Honour Judge Paul Clark
	His Honour Judge Marten Coates
	His Honour Judge Richard Cole DL
	His Honour Judge Corrie
	His Honour Judge Eades
	His Honour Judge Eccles QC
	His Honour Judge Trevor Faber
	Her Honour Judge Elizabeth Fisher
	His Honour Judge Fletcher
	His Honour Judge Geddes
	His Honour Judge Griffith-Jones
	His Honour Judge Julian Hall
	His Honour Judge Simon Hammond
	His Honour Judge Charles Harris QC
	His Honour Judge Heath
	Her Honour Judge Hindley QC
	His Honour Judge Christopher Hodson
	His Honour Judge Inglis
	His Honour Judge Richard Jenkins
	His Honour Judge Macduff QC
	His Honour Judge Marshall
	His Honour Judge Matthews
	His Honour Judge Mayor QC
	His Honour Judge McCarthy
	His Honour Judge McCreath
	His Honour Judge David McEvoy QC
	His Honour Judge Metcalf
	His Honour Judge Morrell
	His Honour Judge Morris
	His Honour Judge Mott
	His Honour Judge Oliver-Jones QC
	His Honour Judge Orme
	His Honour Judge Orrell
	His Honour Judge Perrett QC
	His Honour Judge Pollard
	His Honour Judge Pugsley
	His Honour Judge Pyke
	His Honour Judge Rubery
	His Honour Judge Shand
	His Honour Judge Stanley
	His Honour Judge Michael Stokes QC
	His Honour Judge Stretton
	His Honour Judge Styler
	His Honour Judge Alan Taylor
	His Honour Judge Teare
	His Honour Judge Tonking
	His Honour Judge Wait
	His Honour Judge Richard Wakerley QC
	His Honour Judge Warner
	His Honour Judge Wide QC
	North eastern circuit
	His Honour Judge Adams
	His Honour Judge Armstrong
	His Honour Judge Barber
	His Honour Judge Barr-Young
	His Honour Judge Bartfield
	His Honour Judge Bentley QC
	Her Honour Judge Bolton
	His Honour Judge Bowers
	His Honour Judge Briggs
	His Honour Judge Bryant
	His Honour Judge Bullimore
	His Honour Judge Bush
	Her Honour Judge Annabel Carr QC
	His Honour Judge Carr
	His Honour Judge Cartlidge
	His Honour Judge Charlesworth
	His Honour Judge Cockroft
	His Honour Judge Crabtree
	His Honour Judge Cracknell
	Her Honour Judge Davies
	His Honour Judge Dobkin
	His Honour Judge Faulks QC
	His Honour Judge Fox QC
	His Honour Judge Goldsack
	His Honour Judge Grant
	His Honour Judge Grenfell
	His Honour Judge Gullick
	His Honour Judge Hawkesworth QC
	His Honour Judge Heppel QC
	His Honour Judge Hewitt
	His Honour Judge Hodson
	His Honour Judge Hoffman
	His Honour Judge Norman Jones QC
	His Honour Judge Kamil
	His Honour Judge Keen QC
	His Honour Judge Langan QC
	His Honour Judge Lawler QC
	His Honour Judge Lowden
	His Honour Judge McCallum
	His Honour Judge Mettyear
	His Honour Judge Milford QC
	His Honour Judge Murphy QC
	His Honour Judge Reddihough
	His Honour Judge Robertshaw
	His Honour Judge Scott
	His Honour Judge Spencer QC
	His Honour Judge Shaun Spencer QC
	His Honour Judge Spittle
	His Honour Judge Stewart QC
	Her Honour Judge Sutcliffe
	His Honour Judge Michael Taylor
	His Honour Judge Robert Taylor
	His Honour Judge Walford
	His Honour Judge Walton
	His Honour Judge Whitburn QC
	His Honour Judge Wolstenholme
	His Honour Judge Wood
	Northern circuit
	His Honour Judge Appleton
	His Honour Judge Atherton
	Her Honour Judge Badley
	His Honour Judge Stuart Baker
	His Honour Judge Raymond Bennett
	His Honour Judge Blake
	His Honour Judge Boulton
	His Honour Judge Mark Brown
	His Honour Judge Robert Brown
	His Honour Judge Burke QC
	His Honour Judge Ian Campbell
	His Honour Judge David Clarke QC
	His Honour Judge Denis Clark
	His Honour Judge Clifton
	His Honour Judge Crompton
	His Honour Judge Sir Rhys Davies QC
	His Honour Judge Duckworth
	His Honour Judge Duncan
	His Honour Judge Ensor
	His Honour Judge Fawcus
	His Honour Judge Fish
	His Honour Judge Geake
	His Honour Judge George
	His Honour Judge Gilmour QC
	His Honour Judge Hammond
	His Honour Judge Henshell
	His Honour Judge Holloway
	His Honour Judge Humphries
	Her Honour Judge Kusher QC
	His Honour Judge Lakin
	His Honour Judge Lewis
	His Honour Judge Lynch
	His Honour Judge Lyon
	His Honour Judge Maddison
	His Honour Judge Mahon
	His Honour Judge Morgan
	His Honour Judge William Morris
	His Honour Judge Mort
	His Honour Judge Openshaw QC
	His Honour Judge Phillips
	His Honour Judge Phipps
	His Honour Judge Roberts
	Her Honour Judge Ruaux
	His Honour Judge Singer
	His Honour Judge Slinger
	His Honour Judge Adrian Smith
	His Honour Judge Peter Smith
	Her Honour Judge Elizabeth Steel
	His Honour Judge Steiger QC
	His Honour Judge Swift
	Her Honour Judge Watson
	His Honour Judge Woodward
	South eastern circuit
	His Honour Judge Addison
	His Honour Judge Ader
	His Honour Judge Ansell
	His Honour Judge Anthony
	Her Honour Judge Anwyl QC
	His Honour Judge Findlay Baker QC
	His Honour Judge Balston
	His Honour Judge Barham
	His Honour Judge Barker QC
	His Honour Judge Christopher Barnett QC
	His Honour Judge Bassingthwaighte
	His Honour Judge Bathurst-Norman
	His Honour Judge Beaumont QC
	His Honour Judge Beddard
	His Honour Judge Binning
	His Honour Judge Black
	His Honour Judge Blacksell QC
	His Honour Judge Boal QC
	His Honour Judge Brown
	His Honour Judge Bull QC DL
	His Honour Judge Byers
	His Honour Judge Campbell
	His Honour Judge Carroll
	His Honour Judge Clegg
	His Honour Judge Coleman
	His Honour Judge Colgan
	His Honour Judge Collins
	His Honour Judge Colston QC
	His Honour Judge Coltart
	His Honour Judge Jeremy Connor
	His Honour Judge Roger Connor
	His Honour Judge Coombe
	His Honour Judge Copley
	His Honour Judge Crocker
	His Honour Judge Crawford QC
	His Honour Judge Croft QC
	His Honour Judge Curl
	His Honour Judge De Mille
	His Honour Judge Devaux
	His Honour Judge Downes
	His Honour Judge Dunn QC
	His Honour Judge Ellis
	His Honour Judge Elwen
	His Honour Judge Fabyan Evans
	His Honour Judge Fingret
	His Honour Judge Focke QC
	His Honour Judge Forrester
	His Honour Judge Freedman
	His Honour Judge Gerber
	Her Honour Judge Goddard QC
	His Honour Judge Goldstein
	His Honour Judge Gordon
	His Honour Judge Gosschalk
	His Honour Judge Goymer
	His Honour Judge Hardy
	His Honour Judge Charles Harris QC
	His Honour Judge Michael Harris
	Her Honour Judge Hamilton QC
	His Honour Judge Hawkesworth
	His Honour Judge Hawkins QC
	His Honour Judge Jonathan Haworth
	His Honour Judge Richard Haworth
	His Honour Judge Hayward
	His Honour Judge Hitching
	His Honour Judge Holt
	His Honour Judge Hordern QC
	His Honour Judge Hucker
	His Honour Judge Hyam
	His Honour Judge Inman
	His Honour Judge Issard-Davies
	His Honour Judge Jacobs
	His Honour Judge Joseph
	His Honour Judge Katkhuda
	His Honour Judge Kemp
	His Honour Judge Anthony King
	His Honour Judge Lait
	His Honour Judge Langdon
	His Honour Judge Laurie
	His Honour Judge Lawrence
	His Honour Judge Lindsay QC
	His Honour Judge Lockhart
	His Honour Judge Lyons
	His Honour Judge MacRae
	His Honour Judge Maher
	His Honour Judge Martineau
	His Honour Judge McDowall
	His Honour Judge Rodney McKinnon
	His Honour Judge Warwick McKinnon
	His Honour Judge Medawar QC
	His Honour Judge Meier
	His Honour Judge Mellor
	His Honour Judge Mercer
	His Honour Judge Fergus Mitchell
	Her Honour Judge Agelica Mitchell
	His Honour Judge Moss
	Her Honour Judge Mowat
	His Honour Judge Nash
	His Honour Judge Norris OBE
	His Honour Judge Paget QC
	His Honour Judge Patience QC
	Her Honour Judge Pearlman
	His Honour Judge Pearson
	His Honour Judge Philpot
	His Honour Judge Pitman
	His Honour Judge Pollock
	His Honour Judge Pontius
	His Honour Judge Pratt
	His Honour Judge Radford
	His Honour Judge Rant QC
	His Honour Judge Reid QC
	His Honour Judge Rivlin QC
	His Honour Judge Robbins
	His Honour Judge Roberts
	His Honour Judge Jeremy Roberts QC
	His Honour Judge Samuels QC
	His Honour Judge Sanders
	His Honour Judge Scott-Gall
	His Honour Judge Sessions
	His Honour Judge Simpson
	His Honour Judge Simon Smith
	His Honour Judge Colin Smith QC
	Her Honour Judge Zoe Smith
	His Honour Judge Spence
	His Honour Judge Stephens QC
	His Honour Judge Stokes QC
	His Honour Judge Thomas
	His Honour Judge Thorpe
	His Honour Judge Thompson
	His Honour Judge Tilling
	His Honour Judge Tyrer
	His Honour Judge van der Werff
	His Honour Judge Wadsworth QC
	His Honour Judge Walker
	His Honour Judge Waller
	His Honour Judge Webb
	His Honour Judge Welchman
	His Honour Judge Wilkie QC
	His Honour Judge Wilkinson
	His Honour Judge Winstanley
	His Honour Judge Yelton
	His Honour Judge Zucker QC
	Wales and Chester circuit
	His Honour Judge Burr
	His Honour Judge Clarke
	His Honour Judge Curran
	His Honour Judge Daniel DL
	His Honour Judge Diehl QC
	His Honour Judge Denyer QC
	His Honour Judge Dutton
	His Honour Judge Elgan Edwards DL
	His Honour Judge Gaskell
	His Honour Judge David Hale
	His Honour Judge Robert Hughes
	His Honour Judge Merfyn Hughes QC
	His Honour Judge Graham Jones
	His Honour Judge Llewellyn Jones QC
	His Honour Judge Wynn Morgan
	His Honour Judge David Morris
	His Honour Judge Christopher Morton
	His Honour Judge Gerald Price QC
	Her Honour Judge Eleri Rees
	His Honour Judge Philip Richards
	His Honour Judge Rogers QC
	His Honour Judge Griffith Williams QC
	Western circuit
	His Honour Judge Beashel
	His Honour Judge Boothman
	His Honour Judge Brodrick
	His Honour Judge Burford QC
	His Honour Judge Bursell QC
	His Honour Judge Cottle
	His Honour Judge Crowther QC
	His Honour Judge Cutler
	His Honour Judge Darlow
	His Honour Judge Darwall Smith
	His Honour Judge David Smith QC
	His Honour Judge Foley
	His Honour Judge Gilbert QC
	His Honour Judge Griffiths
	His Honour Judge Griggs
	Her Honour Judge Hagen
	His Honour Judge Hooton
	His Honour Judge Hughes QC
	His Honour Judge Hutton
	His Honour Judge Jarvis
	His Honour Judge Jones
	His Honour Judge Leigh QC
	His Honour Judge Longbotham
	His Honour Judge MacKean
	His Honour Judge MacLaren Webster QC
	His Honour Judge McKintosh
	His Honour Judge McNaught
	His Honour Judge Meston QC
	His Honour Judge O'Malley DL
	His Honour Judge Overend
	His Honour Judge Price
	His Honour Judge Pryor QC
	His Honour Judge Roach
	His Honour Judge Rucker
	His Honour Judge Selwood
	His Honour Judge Shawcross
	His Honour Judge Taylor
	His Honour Judge Thompson QC
	His Honour Judge Ticehurst
	His Honour Judge Wiggs.

Code of Practice on Access to Government Information

Michael Jabez Foster: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when she plans to publish the monitoring report for the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information covering the year 2001.

Yvette Cooper: I am pleased to inform hon. Members that the monitoring report for the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information for the year 2001 will be published in August. A pre-print copy of the report has been placed in the House Library and a copy is available on my Department's website.

Libra Project

Jim Knight: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on the progress of discussions between the Lord Chancellor's Department and Fujitsu Services on the Libra project to provide IT services for the magistrates courts in England and Wales.

Yvette Cooper: There are two parts to the Libra project: the provision of a modern IT infrastructure and network to link the magistrates courts with other parts of the criminal justice system and the special software for case management, accounting and other administration within the courts. Installation of the infrastructure and network is 75 per cent. complete and will be completed during the first half of 2003. The specialised software has been delayed.
	The Department has now signed a variation to the contract with Fujitsu Services (formerly known as ICL) in respect of the Libra project.
	Under these new arrangements, Fujitsu Services will continue to deliver the IT infrastructure and network and provide support until March 2007.
	However, the Department has decided that Fujitsu Services will not be required to continue with the development of the specialised software for case management, accounting and other administration. Serious concerns arose last year when delays in delivery of the software and increases in their costs led Fujitsu Services to seek to renegotiate the contract. As many courts and offices had already been equipped with the IT infrastructure, a basis for renegotiation was agreed. Despite intensive negotiation however, it has not proved possible to reach an agreement on the specialised software at an acceptable price, which will deliver value for money for the taxpayer.
	Instead, the Department will procure application services separately. Assessments show that robust, tried and tested software, is now available in the marketplace, which could meet requirements at a lower cost than that on offer from Fujitsu Services.
	The original 1998 contract was valued at 183 million to run until July 2009. A variation to this was signed with Fujitsu/ICL in 2000, which was valued at 319 million and was to run until 2013. This was not a real price increase as the extra cost was for the extra years and other benefits. In each case the contract with Fujitsu Services was for the delivery of both the infrastructure and the specialised software.
	The estimated value of the revised contract with Fujitsu Services is 232 million which includes some 31 million paid under the existing contract from 2000 to the end of June 2002 for the delivery and operation of the infrastructure services received by the magistrates courts. In addition, the Government have paid Fujitsu Services 6.8 million for design products produced as part of the software application development that can be reused. Apart from this amount, the financial and management risks of developing the software have been borne by the supplier.
	A number of studies have been carried out by external organisations to provide assurances on the way forward, including a benchmark exercise on the infrastructure costs and an assessment of the costs, timescales and market capacity to deliver the software application services.
	The benchmarking exercise shows that the cost of the provision of the infrastructure service in the revised contract is in line with the cost of similar services provided to organisations of similar size, structure and complexity in the private and public sectors. It is possible, but by no means certain, that a new competitive procurement could deliver the services for less cost, but the Department's assessment of the costs of delays and procurement and completing the implementation of the service to all courts shows that the revised contract provides best value for money to the taxpayer.
	The studies on the software application services indicate that the services can be delivered by the end of 2004a delay of nine months on the original 1998 contractand at a price that will be affordable and provide value for money. The Department is planning on this basis. However, these services will be subject to new procurements and the House will be informed of the outcome when the procurements have been completed.
	There are lessons to be learned for all parties from the project. Since the original award of contract a range of Government guidelines on managing IT contracts and on PFI/PPP contracts has been issued. These have been fully utilised in the recent negotiation. Improvements introduced on Libra in the last 12 months include strengthening of the governance arrangements, better risk management, the use of external benchmarking and an external review under the gateway process. This has provided more effective controls for the negotiations and future plans. The new arrangement separates the delivery of the infrastructure from the application which is designed to better ensure the success of the overall programme and at the same time place appropriate risk with the respective providers and the Department.

Asylum Seekers

Liz Blackman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the personal delivery of some appeal determinations to asylum seekers.

Rosie Winterton: Under the Immigration and Asylum Appeals (Procedure) (Amendment) Rules 2001, the Home Secretary has been responsible since 7 January 2002 for the delivery of asylum appeal determinations to appellants who have no further rights of appeal within the Immigration Appellate Authorities (IAA). While the majority of these determinations have been served by post, some determinations have been deemed suitable for delivery in person either by a home visit or at a reporting centre.
	A pilot scheme to test the effectiveness of personal delivery procedures commenced on 7 January in the areas covered by Croydon, East Midlands and Leeds Local Enforcement Units and more recently Eaton House (Heathrow). The primary focus of the pilot scheme has been to establish that the correct procedures are in place to ensure that determinations are delivered promptly and that asylum seekers have access to their legal representatives and to the courts.
	The Home Office has set targets of 48 hours for posting determinations and six weeks for those being served personally. This allows the Home Office, where appropriate, to serve the determination at a time when the appellant attends a reporting centre, in line with any reporting conditions, or by home visit. Where the Home Office is unable to deliver the determination in person within six weeks, it is posted to the appellant.
	The first evaluation of this pilot has now been completed and the results are as follows. Between 7 January and 31 May 2002 the average time taken to deliver a determination in person (including those delivered at reporting centres when a person attends for their regular appointment) has been 19 days. A copy of the determination has been forwarded to the appellant's representative within a maximum of two and a half hours of personal delivery. For those appellants who were removed by 31 May, the average time between delivery of the determination and removal has been 13 days and the minimum time was one day.
	Failed asylum seekers who have been taken into detention or removed have been informed of their right to contact a legal representative and given reasonable opportunity to do so. Those wishing to apply for judicial review have had three working days in which to submit an application and a day in which to obtain the High Court reference number. During this time removal directions have been suspended.
	Two such applications for judicial review were made between 7 January and 31 May. There have been no applications for a review (under rule 16 or 19 of the Immigration and Asylum (Procedure) Rules) by the Chief Adjudicator or President of the Tribunal respectively.
	As of 31 May 2002, of the 76 determinations deemed suitable for personal delivery, 34 were successfully delivered in person and 24 people have been removed from the country.
	The Home Office is now considering expanding the scheme in the light of the evaluation results.

Gibraltar

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Electoral Commission will be advised of the need to incorporate Gibraltar within a European Constituency in time for the next European Elections; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Government intends to seek legislation at the next convenient opportunity to allow people of Gibraltar to vote in the next European parliamentary elections and to provide for the Electoral Commission to recommend of which regional constituency Gibraltar will form a part. Preliminary consultations with the Commission have begun.

Consultation

Andrew Turner: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what public consultations have been commenced by his Department since 1 April; and what the (a) closing date and (b) website address of each were.

Rosie Winterton: The titles and closing dates of each of the written national public consultations commenced by the Lord Chancellor's Department since 1 April are listed.
	Each national public consultation carried out by the Department is normally published on the Lord Chancellor's Department website at http://www.lcd.gov.uk/consult/ confr.htm. However the third and fourth of these consultation papers were originally published online by the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions at http://www.elections.dtlr.gov.uk/consult. Following the recent machinery of Government changes both of these papers now fall under the responsibility of the Lord Chancellor's Department. Arrangements are currently being made for their transfer onto the Lord Chancellor's Department website.
	
		
			 Title  Closing date 
		
		
			 5) Selection procedures for the circuit bench and recordership 5 July 2002 
			   
			 6) Making Decisions: Helping people who have difficulty deciding for themselves 9 July 2002 
			   
			 7) Electoral RegistersAccess, Supply and Sale Regulatory Impact Assessment Questionnaire 13 June 2002 
			   
			 8) Electoral RegistersAccess, Supply and Sale Policy paper and draft regulations 13 June 2002

Anglo-Irish Ministerial Meetings

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when and where Ministers in her Department have held meetings with Ministers and officials of the Irish Government since 1 June 2000; which Ministers were involved in each meeting; which Irish Government Departments were involved in each meeting; and which Ministers and officials from the Irish Government attended each meeting.

Rosie Winterton: I met the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform briefly in the margins of an Inter-governmental Conference on domestic violence entitled 'Raising the Standards', held in Dublin in December 2001. No other LCD Ministers have met Ministers or officials of the Irish Government since 1 June 2000.

Freedom of Information

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on what grounds a freedom of information request can be denied by the Government; and how many of these requests have been denied in the last five years, broken down by reason for denial.

Yvette Cooper: The right of access to information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 will come into force on 1 January 2005. Until that date, requests for Government information will be dealt with in accordance with the non-statutory Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Under the code, the approach to release of information should in all cases be based on the assumption that information should be released except where disclosure would not be in the public interest, as specified in Part II of the code. Part II of the code sets out categories of information that are exempt from the commitments to provide information under the code. These exemptions are listed in table 2.
	Table 1 gives details of the numbers of requests under the code that were received and the number of code requests refused in the last five years for all of the bodies covered by the code. We do not have records of the reason for denial for each of the requests refused. However, if an applicant is dissatisfied with the response to their request they can ask the Department to review that decision internally. Table 2 sets out the number of times each exemption has been cited at this stage in the review process for the last five years. Monitoring reports on the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information are published annually and copies are available in the House Library.
	
		Annex A -- Table 1: Number of requests received and refused under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information
		
			 Year Number of requests received Number of requests refused 
		
		
			 2001(52) 4,668 797 
			 2000 5,969 1,072 
			 1999 4,863 1,398 
			 1998 23,754 1,745 
			 1997 3,772 1,894 
		
	
	(52) The code monitoring report for 2001 has not yet been published.
	
		Table 2: Number of exemptions cited at internal review of code of practice requests
		
			   Number of times cited in  
			 Code exemption  2001(53) 2000 1999 1998 1997 19942001 
		
		
			 1) Defence, security and international relations 4 5 4 3 0 21 
			 2) Internal discussion and advice 18 11 10 7 11 72 
			 3) Communication with the royal household 1 0 0 0 1 2 
			 4) Law enforcement and legal proceedings 12 11 8 8 9 58 
			 5) Immigration and nationality 0 6 0 2 0 9 
			 6) Effective management of the economy and collection of tax 2 1 1 0 4 8 
			 7) Effective management and operations of the public service 1 1 1 1 2 17 
			 8) Public employment, public appointments and honours 0 3 4 1 3 14 
			 9) Voluminous or vexatious requests 4 6 6 6 10 40 
			 10) Publication and prematurity in relation to publication 3 3 4 0 3 13 
			 11) Research, statistics and analysis 1 0 1 0 0 2 
			 12) Privacy of an individual 6 9 3 5 2 30 
			 13) Third party's commercial confidence 2 1 2 5 3 22 
			 14) Information given in confidence 6 3 0 2 3 23 
			 15) Statutory and other restrictions 7 2 0 0 2 13 
		
	
	(53) The code monitoring report for 2001 has not yet been published.

Thames Valley (Trials)

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many trials in the Thames Valley Magistrates' Court area have been cancelled because of a shortage of legal advisers since November 2001.

Yvette Cooper: I am advised by the Thames MCC that they have not cancelled any trials, but that approximately 300 trials have been postponed; deferred or rescheduled because of a shortage of legal advisers.
	To place this figure in context, the statistical returns from the Thames Valley Magistrates' Court Committee show that proceedings in 55,261 criminal and civil matters were concluded, in the Thames Valley Magistrates' Court Committee area, in the period October 2001 to March 2002.

Magistrates' Courts Committees

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what arrangements are being made to transfer civil servants from national to local employment in connection with the replacement of magistrates' courts committees.

Yvette Cooper: The Government said in the White Paper Justice for All (CM 5563) that it intends to legislate to integrate the management of the courts within a single national courts organisation to replace existing magistrates' courts committees and the Court Service. The new organisation will have local management boards operating within a national framework of standards. No arrangements are being made to transfer civil servants from national to local employment.

Performance Targets

Tony Wright: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will list the performance targets that the Lord Chancellor's Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are required to meet, apart from those set out in the public service agreements for 19992002 and 20012004; and if he will specify for each target (a) who sets it and (b) who monitors achievement against it.

Yvette Cooper: The Lord Chancellor's Department performance targets are all set out in our Public Service Agreement and supported by our Service Delivery Agreement. The targets and our current progress against them is set out in the Lord Chancellor's Department's Departmental Report (Cm 5408), which was published recently.
	The Court Service's performance targets are set by Ministers, and the Chief Executive reports directly to the Lord Chancellor. The current targets are set out in the following table.
	We have three executive non-departmental public bodies.
	The Legal Services Commission (LSC) came into being in April 2000. Its targets are set out each year in its corporate plan, which is approved by the Lord Chancellor and laid before the Houses of Parliament. The Commission's chair reports progress and achievements directly to the Lord Chancellor. The LSC also reports progress in its annual report; its first report was published in July 2001. The second annual report, published on 22 July, reports against the 200102 to 200304 corporate plan. In its annual report, the Commission also reports against four categories of business performance targets: applications processed; bills paid; correspondence, appeals and reviews of civil funding decisions. The Commission's second corporate plan, for the period 200203 to 200304, sets out its 54 performance targets. These are broken down into 24 Community Legal Service targets, 13 Criminal Defence Service targets and 17 targets on the work of the Commission. These are set out in the following list.
	The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) has been in existence since April 2001 and will be publishing its first annual report later this year. CAFCASS's corporate plan for 200206, published earlier this year, includes the development of five key performance targets for use in the future. These are laid out in the following table.
	The Information Commissioner sets her own performance targets which are set out in the Commissioner's annual reports, the latest of which was published in June 2002. These are laid out in the following table.
	The Lord Chancellor's Department monitors achievement against the targets through the supply of quarterly reports by the Office of the Commissioner.
	
		Court Service key performance indicators
		
			   Target 
		
		
			 KP1 1 The percentage improvement in the level of satisfaction to court and tribunal users 2 per cent. improvement on the current level of 79 per cent. 
			 KP1 2 The percentage of civil cases heard within target (from allocation to track to hearing) 75 per cent. 
			 KP1 3 The percentage of value recovered of enforceable warrants in the county court 76 pence in the pound 
			 KP1 4 The percentage of public law Children Act cases dealt with in target (from commencement to final order) 70 per cent. 
			 KP1 5 The percentage of defendants/appellants in the Crown court whose cases commence within target time 78 per cent. 
			 KP1 6 The percentage of asylum appeals completed (through both the Immigration and Appellate Authority) within four months 65 per cent. 
			 KP1 7 The percentage improvement in the European foundation for Quality Management Excellence Model score for the Court Service 10 per cent. improvement by March 2004 
		
	
	Legal Services Commission
	CLSAccess to services: Key objectives and performance targets
	200203
	Commence Family Information and Advice Network pilots
	Secure a year-on-year increase in the number of CLS Information Points.
	Commence further telephone advice and specialist support service pilot contracts
	Ensure that by April 2002 the CLS Directory of General and Specialist help services is confined to Quality Mark holders
	Issue proposals for the allocation of resources under the replacement General Civil Contract
	200304
	Secure a year on year increase in the number of CLS information points.
	CLSService quality: Key objectives and performance targets
	200203
	Implement the Specialist Quality Mark (April 2002)
	Implement Quality Mark standards for the Bar (certifying 100 chambers), mediation and websites
	Complete peer review pilot (January 2003)
	Complete cost compliance audit of all contracted suppliers by March 2003, reducing the number of suppliers with a 'poor' rating
	Complete pilot supplier development projects in central and east London and Birmingham (March 2003)
	Establish whether targets can be set for numbers of minority ethnic firms with contracts by March 2003
	Introduce remuneration policy changes:-
	grants for training contracts
	payment of registration fees for specialist and generalist panels
	200304
	To ensure that 95 per cent. of expenditure from the CLS Fund is on work carried out by quality assured suppliers by March 2004.
	To increase the percentage of funding from Community Legal Service Fund and funding members of CLS partnerships going to CLS providers of legal services holding the Quality Mark.
	CLSCo-ordinate service and provision: Key objectives and performance targets
	200203
	75 per cent. of population covered by a CLS Partnerships strategic plan by March 2003.
	Publish first report on the CLS Partnership performance indicators.
	200304
	Achieve 100 per cent. population coverage of CLS Partnerships in England and Wales by March 2004.
	CLSValue for money: Key objectives and performance targets
	200203
	Payments to suppliers by March 2003 not to exceed the value of claims by more than 2.5 per cent.
	Make amendments to the General Civil Contract:
	Simplifying the taking of sanctions against suppliers not complying with the contract.
	Promoting value for money in not-for-profit agency contracts.
	Bring 95 per cent. of new qualifying high cost cases under individual case contract.
	Introduce and monitor value for money targets for social welfare law, legal help and non-family legal representation.
	200304
	Secure a year on year increase in the number of disputes resolved with funding from the CLS Fund through ADR including mediation.
	By March 2004 reduce CLS cost inflation to 0.5 per cent. p.a. for:
	the average cost of very high cost cases (civil and criminal).
	the average cost per case of legal help in a) immigration, and b) all other work.
	CDSAccess to services: Key objectives and performance targets
	200203
	LSC ensures access to quality assured criminal defence services:
	Rota solicitors accept 80 per cent. of police station duty solicitor requests.
	Police station duty solicitors to contact client within 45 minutes in 90 per cent. of cases.
	100 per cent. coverage of magistrates' court sessions requiring a duty solicitor.
	Introduce targeted remuneration policy changes:
	pay for duty solicitor accreditation.
	grants for training contracts.
	200304
	Ensure that by March 2004 90 per cent. of people in police stations requesting the service of a duty solicitor receive the service within 45 minutes.
	Ensure by March 2004 100 per cent. access to a quality assured solicitor for people charged with criminal offences and meeting the interests of justice tests.
	Ensure that by March 2004 all magistrates' courts are covered by the duty solicitor service.
	Ensure that 95 per cent. of expenditure from the CDS Fund is on work carried out by quality assured suppliers by March 2004.
	CDSValue for money: Key objectives and performance targets
	200203
	Introduce new payment regime for police station duty solicitor claims (April 2002).
	Extend the counsel graduated fee scheme in the Crown court to cover all cases with trials of up to 25 days in length.
	Ensure payments to all suppliers under the General Criminal Contract do not exceed the sums billed by more than 510 per cent. during the year.
	Complete cost compliance audits of all contracted suppliers by March 2003, reducing the number of suppliers receiving a 'poor' rating.
	200304
	Transfer accountability from the Court Service for legal aid in the Crown and Higher courts (April 2003).
	By March 2004 reduce CDS cost inflation to 0.5 per cent. p.a. for:
	the average cost of very high cost cases.
	the average cost of all CDS representation (excluding very high cost cases).
	CDSContribute to CJS Plan: Key objectives and performance targets
	200203 to 200304
	Contribute to CJS strategic targets:
	Reduce by 2004 the time from charge to disposal of defendants
	Improve the standard by which the CJS meets the rights of defendants.
	Improve the level of public confidence in the CJS by 2004, including that of ethnic minority communities.
	LSCEnsure sufficient asylum legal services: Key objectives and performance targets
	200203
	Reduce the volume of applications for asylum refused on grounds of non-compliance with application rules.
	Reduce the number of adjournments of appeals before the adjudicators because of the lack of representation.
	LSCEnsure actions and decisions are justifiable to those affected: Key objectives and performance targets
	200203
	Put in place mechanisms to ensure equal opportunities are promoted by the Commission's priority decision making activities by 31 May 2002.
	Develop and apply an organisational standard for consulting users and stakeholders, including those with special needs.
	LSCQuality and efficiency: Key objectives and performance targets
	200203
	Improve levels of supplier satisfaction with:
	Telephone contact.
	Correspondence handling.
	Communication about important issues.
	Consistency of decision making.
	Improve the levels of consistency in:
	Audit decision making.
	Funding and bill assessment work.
	Cash flow to suppliers.
	Attain published customer service standards, including:
	reduce the time files are held for audit.
	providing prompt feedback on cost compliance audits so it is co-ordinated with the management audit or, where this is not possible, provided within 28 days of the completion of the file audit.
	LSCDeveloping people: Key objectives and performance targets
	200203
	Achieve improved staff satisfaction with:
	How people are helped to understand their performance.
	Reward.
	Working environment.
	Training and development opportunities.
	Improve recruitment and selectionmeasured by the number of new staff who complete their probation period successfully.
	Improve quality of personal objective setting.
	Complete an independent verification of LSC's position within the labour market.
	Ensure all staff have a personal development plan.
	Deliver an average of nine days training per full time employee.
	Put in place mechanisms to ensure equal opportunities are promoted for staff by May 2002.
	LSCDeveloping systems: Key objectives and performance targets
	200203
	Develop MI systems for:
	Statutory charge.
	Debtors.
	Damages on deposit.
	Complete supplier information and audit performance management system (Aug 2002).
	Migrate the core business systems to a new IT platform (Jan 2003)
	
		CAFCASS
		
			
		
		
			 KPI 1 Performance against CAFCASS National Standards. We will establish in 200203 performance benchmarks and targets for evaluation of service provision. 
			 KPI 2 Satisfaction with CAFCASS services. We will establish in 200203 ways of measuring satisfaction of children, families and other stakeholders with the CAFCASS service. 
			 KPI 3 Timeliness and quality of service to the courts. We will establish our performance baseline by the end of 200102 and in 200203 establish measures of timeliness and quality of the service provided to courts. 
			 KPI 4 Value for money targets for service. We will undertake work in 200203 to establish measures of value for money. 
			 KPI 5 Human Resources. We will establish in 200203 measure of performance, alongside development of the CAFCASS Human Resources Strategy. 
		
	
	
		Information Commissioner output measures and performance indicators
		
			   Estimate and targets  
			 Output measure/Performance indicator 200203 200304 
		
		
			 Notification   
			 Number of weighted transactions processed 361,223 237,155 
			 Number of weighted transactions processed per officer day (54)82.61 (54)83.77 
			
			 Assessment and complaints   
			 Total requests for assessment received 13,500 14,000 
			 Complaints not investigated   
			 Inquiries handled 6,548 6,790 
			 No assessment made 945 980 
			  
			 Sub-total 7,493 7,770 
			
			 Assessments completed 6,480 6,720 
			 Complaints investigated and closed 120 120 
			  
			 Sub-total 6,600 6,840 
			
			 Contact with our customers   
			 Telephone inquiries received by the information line 57,000 57,000 
			 Calls received per line hour 9.36 9.36 
			
			 Data protectionpublic awareness   
			 Percentage of large data controllers aware of subjects' rights 85.0 86.0 
			 Percentage of small data controllers aware of subjects' rights 60.0 62.0 
			 Percentage of data subjects aware of own rights 42.0 42.0 
			
			 Freedom of informationpublic awareness   
			 Among the public (percentage) 15.0 15.0 
			 Within public authorities (percentage) 25.0 35.0 
		
	
	(54) Dependent on increased staffing to handle current level of telephone calls.

Parliamentary Questions

Anthony Steen: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will reply to the questions tabled by the hon. Member for Putney (Mr. Colman) transferred to her Department by the Department of Trade and Industry, refs., 67261 and 67262, before 24 July.

Yvette Cooper: Yes. They are being answered today.

Legal Services Commission

David Lepper: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when the Legal Services Commission's Land Charges Department will complete its project to cleanse the data held on its computer system.

Rosie Winterton: The Commission's project to produce accurate statutory charge statements has depended upon its Land Charges Department carrying out a number of data cleansing exercises. Those exercises, and the first stage of the project, are expected to be completed by the end of August 2002. The Commission will then carry out checks to ensure that no further data cleanse is required.

Legal Services Commission

David Lepper: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what training has been given to staff of the Legal Services Commission Land Charges Department to improve the accuracy of data inputting in relation to clients.

Rosie Winterton: Steps have been taken to improve the knowledge and understanding of all staff within the Commission who deal with the statutory charge. A programme of two days' training for 160 staff including those within the land charge department has taken place. The training covered the nature of the charge; the circumstances in which it arises; how its value is determined; the conditions on which the Commission can postpone its enforcement; the technicalities of how the charge is secured by registration on land; and the rules on payment of interest where enforcement is postponed by registration on the client's home.

Legal Services Commission

David Lepper: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Legal Services Commission will complete its project to enable its computer system to produce statements of amounts owed by each client with a charge secured by registration on their home.

Rosie Winterton: The Legal Services Commission is in the final stages of testing the system for the production of statutory charge statements. If the testing proves successful the Commission intends to issue an initial 1,500 statements by the end of August 2002. The Commission will then review the impact before finalising a timetable for sending a statement to all the clients affected.

Legal Services Commission

David Lepper: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Legal Services Commission's computer system will be able to provide an on-screen explanation of the change to the statutory charge for use by the Commission's caseworkers.

Rosie Winterton: Subject to satisfactory completion of the final stages of testing, which are currently under way, the Commission will be able to provide an on-screen explanation of the changes to the statutory charge for use by its caseworkers by the end of August 2002, in parallel with the timetable for issuing the initial 1,500 statutory charge statements as detailed in my earlier answer today (question 71701).

Legal Services Commission

David Lepper: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Legal Services Commission's computer system will produce statements on a rolling basis, annually from the date of first registration or when required.

Rosie Winterton: The Legal Services Commission intends that all clients will receive a statutory charge statement by the end of August 2003. Statements will then be issued annually on a rolling basis on the anniversary of first registration of each charge and on request. Statements are issued manually on request at present.

Fines (Greater Manchester)

Andrew Bennett: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will list the total fines imposed in each of the last three years for each magistrates court area in Greater Manchester; what percentage of fines was collected in each area in each year; what percentage of fines was written off in each year in each area; and what progress is being made in improving the enforcement ratio.

Yvette Cooper: Magistrates courts committees have a responsibility for the collection of a range of debts imposed by the courts, including not only fines but also fees, compensation, confiscation orders, legal aid contributions and some maintenance orders. It is not possible to separate out just fines from the total.
	The figures for the magistrates courts areas within Greater Manchester are contained in the table.
	The Government are committed to improving the enforcement of financial penalties. Variations in performance across the country are too wide. We transferred lead responsibility for warrant execution from the police to magistrates courts committees (MCCs) on 1 April 2001, giving MCCs control over the whole enforcement process.
	We have established an information sharing scheme, which enables magistrates courts to obtain basic information on defaulters from the Department for Work and Pensions. We have set performance targets for 200203 and magistrates courts committees have been given nearly 10 million extra from April 2002, ring-fenced for enforcement purposes. We will monitor the position carefully to check that performance improves.
	
		Greater Manchester magistrates courts committee
		
			  Imposed () Percentage paid Percentage amount written off 
		
		
			 April 1999-March 2000
			 Trafford 4,728,186 24 9 
			 Tameside 1,861,182 57 13 
			 Stockport 2,227,346 49 (55) 
			 Oldham 1,106,743 101 57 
			 North and West Manchester (includes Rochdale, Wigan, Leigh and Bury) 10,727,563 60 23 
			 Manchester 6,035,529 49 36 
			 
			 April 2000-March 2001
			 Trafford 3,951,052 33 35 
			 Tameside 1,776,096 54 22 
			 Stockport 1,558,011 89 35 
			 Oldham 1,063,770 114 50 
			 North and West Manchester (includes Rochdale, Wigan, Leigh and Bury) 9,921,380 63 30 
			 Manchester 6,700,253 52 35 
			 
			 April 2001-March 2002
			 Trafford 4,302,658 28 6 
			 Tameside 1,334,217 71 30 
			 Stockport 1,381,183 92 30 
			 Oldham 1,028,870 106 46 
			 Salford 931,028 123 52 
			 Bolton 1,448,566 97 18 
			 Wigan (includes Bury, Leigh and Rochdale) 6,329,356 54 21 
			 Manchester 6,278,014 52 40 
		
	
	(55) Date not available
	Following the amalgamation in April 2001 there was a change of areas making up Greater Manchester magistrates court committee.
	Please note that information regarding debt is calculated over a rolling year and that the percentages paid and written off in each area could also include amounts that were imposed in previous years. This is why the amount recorded as paid in any one year can exceed the amount imposed.

Life-Prolonging Treatment

Brian Iddon: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on the draft guidance to doctors Withholding and Withdrawing Life-Prolonging Treatments: Good Practice in Decision Making, in particular the recommendation that a junior doctor be removed from the care of a patient should they have a conscientious objection to ending a patient's life by withholding fluids.

Rosie Winterton: It is not appropriate for me to make a statement on the draft guidance Withholding and Withdrawing Life-Prolonging Treatments: Good Practice in Decision-Making which has been recently issued by the General Medical Council. My officials are currently considering this guidance and in the meantime, I would welcome the comments of the General Medical Council on the Government's current consultation paper Making Decisions: Helping People who have Difficulty in Deciding for Themselves.

Life-Prolonging Treatment

David Drew: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department with reference to consultation on Making decisions: helping people who have difficulty in deciding for themselves, what legal advice is available to patients faced by a doctor's decision to withhold food or fluid.

Rosie Winterton: The current legal position, and the advice available, is set out in the consultation paper referred to by my hon. Friend. Usually agreement can be reached between health care professionals, the patient and people close to the patient about the best treatment and whether treatment should be continued. Artificial hydration and nutrition can only be withdrawn if that is clearly in the patient's wishes or, in circumstances where the patient is unable to give consent, if receiving it is no longer in his or her best interests. Where the patient is in a persistent vegetative state, authorisation must also be sought from the court. If there is doubt in a particular case, the court may be asked to decide what is in the patient's best interests. In such cases, where the patient lacks capacity to be able to instruct his or her own solicitors, the Official Solicitor will be appointed to act on the patient's behalf.

Life-Prolonging Treatment

Brian Iddon: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department whether it has been assumed that ending the life of a patient on grounds of poor quality is standard practice in her consultation on Withholding and Withdrawing Life-Prolonging Treatments: Good Practice in Decision Making; and for what reason those consulted have not been asked for their opinions on this.

Rosie Winterton: Withholding and Withdrawing Life-Prolonging Treatments: Good Practice in Decision Making has recently been produced by the General Medical Council, not by my Department. My Department is however consulting on guidance explaining mental incapacity issues in Making Decisions: Helping People who have Difficulty Deciding for Themselves. This consultation paper reflects our view that decision-making relating to withdrawal of medical treatment which may lead to the death of a patient is a most sensitive area of medical practice and must be carried out according to strict guidelines and procedures. The draft guidance contained in my Department's consultation paper refers readers to guidance produced by the British Medical Association and by the General Medical Council which assist in promoting high-quality decision-making in this difficult area. The Government welcome responses on all issues addressed in the consultation paper and these will be thoroughly considered and will inform the guidance leaflets when they are published later this year.

Trials

Christopher Chope: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proportion of trials were ineffective in each of the last three years.

Yvette Cooper: A criminal trial is deemed as being ineffective when, for some reason, it cannot proceed on the day it has been listed for hearing and has to be re-listed at a later date. Figures relating to the proportion of ineffective criminal trials in the Crown court are set out in the table. This information is not available for the magistrates courts. Data on ineffective cases in the magistrates courts did not start to be collected on a national basis (England and Wales) until April of this year. The first quarterly figures should be available in September 2002.
	
		
			   Total cases listed for trial Total ineffective trials Proportion of ineffective trials (%) 
		
		
			 1999 50,791 12,444 24.5 
			 2000 51,510 12,468 24.2 
			 2001 52,338 12,612 24.1

Data Protection Act

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will place in the Library copies of each version of the guidance distributed to officials to advise them on how to answer subject access requests under the Data Protection Act 1998.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Member for Swindon, North (Mr. Wills), gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Hall Green (Mr. McCabe), on 25 April 2002, Official Report, column 446W.

Judges' Lodgings

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what action has been taken since the publication of Lord Justice Auld's report to assess the value for money provided by individual judges' lodgings; and what action will be taken in respect of judges' lodgings assessed not to provide value for money in line with the recommendation of the Auld report.

Yvette Cooper: The overall value for money and cost effectiveness of the Lodgings network is under continual review and has been so since the publication of Lord Justice Auld's report.
	In terms of the general administrative efficiencies, of which the hon. Member is already aware, a general cost reduction of approximately 300k p.a. across the network had been expected. The estimate is now that this will rise as far as 400k p.a. These efficiencies include discontinuing the use of the Lodgings at Mold.
	As the hon. Member will be aware the Government's White Paper Justice For All has now been published which sets out legislative proposals to modernise the criminal justice system. There are many issues connected to the White Paper, including Judges' Lodgings, which are under active consideration. When we have determined the way forward on Lodgings, I will write to the hon. Member with details.

Judges' Lodgings

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the average cost was of running judges' lodgings per night of accommodation provided in the financial year 200102.

Yvette Cooper: The figures for the financial year 200102 are not currently available, but I will write to the hon. Member with the figures as soon as they are.

Judges' Lodgings

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will list the (a) units of residential accommodation owned or rented by his Department for occupation by judges on circuit, (b) accumulative capital value of the same when last valued, (c) the running costs of maintaining the same for the financial years (i) 200001 and (ii) 200102 and (d) the number of judges accommodated in the same for each of the above years and the number of nights they were so accommodated.

Yvette Cooper: A list of the units of residential accommodation owned or rented by the Lord Chancellor's Department for occupation by judges on circuit was supplied in the reply to the hon. Member's question 02/407 on 29 November 2001. The only change to this list is in respect of the Lodgings at Mold, use of which, as the hon. Member is already aware, has been discontinued.
	The capital value of the freehold lodging estate was 12.97 million as at September 2001.
	The cost of running the judges' lodgings for the year 200001 was:
	Total cost5.616 million
	Cost of lodgings (excluding the Treasury capital charge payable on all freehold properties)4.814 million.
	Costs solely attributable to judicial occupation2.244 million. The figures for the year 200102 are currently not available. Similarly it has not proved possible in the time provided to collate the judicial occupancy statistics requested. I will therefore write to the hon. Member with this information in due course.

Judges' Lodgings

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the average cost was of running judges' lodgings per judge accommodated at each of the individual lodgings in the lodging estate for the financial year 200102.

Yvette Cooper: The figures for the financial year 200102 are not currently available, but I will write to the hon. Member with the figures as soon as they are.

Judges' Lodgings

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the average cost was of running judges' lodgings per judge accommodated in financial years (a) 200001 and (b) 200102.

Yvette Cooper: The average cost of running judges' lodgings per judge accommodated for the financial year 200001 is set out in the table on three bases:
	
		 
		
			  Cost per judge accommodated 
		
		
			 Total Cost of Lodgings  
			 200001 61, 047 
			   
			 Cost of lodgings(56)  
			 200001 52,326 
			   
			 Costs soley attributable to judicial occupation  
			 200001 24,676 
		
	
	(56) Excluding the Treasury capital charge payable on all freehold properties
	The figures for 200102 are not currently available, but I will write to the hon. Member with them as soon as they are.

Magistrates Courts

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if she will make a statement on the implications of the criminal justice White Paper for her plans for magistrates court closures.

Yvette Cooper: The Government said in the White Paper, Justice for All (CM 5563), that it intends to legislate to integrate the management of the courts within a single courts organisation to replace existing magistrates courts committees and the Court Service.
	The Government believe that an integrated system will support its aim of providing the widest possible network of viable local venues, keeping the delivery of justice local.

Referendums

George Osborne: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what her responsibilities are for the organisation of referendums.

Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
	The former responsibilities of the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions for policy on referendums have been transferred to the Lord Chancellor. The procedures for the organisation of referendums are set out in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.

Goodwin and I v. UK

Lynne Jones: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how much public money has been spent fighting the case of Goodwin and I v. UK.

Ian McCartney: I have been asked to reply.
	The costs involved are spread across several Departments over a number of years and are available only at disproportionate cost. Counsels' fees are commercially confidential.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Mali

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the fairness of the recent parliamentary elections in Mali.

Denis MacShane: The first round of parliamentary elections in Mali was on 14 July. The second is due on 28 July. Turnout for the first round was low, at under 20 per cent. However the Malian Government has worked hard to overcome some of the problems experienced in the presidential elections earlier this year. The elections are being observed by a number of Malian NGOs, who will not release their assessments of the elections until after the second round. Our Embassy in Bamako is also monitoring the elections closely.

Liberia

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to bring all sides in Liberia's civil war to peace negotiations; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: We are concerned about the fighting in Liberia. Our Embassy in Abidjan regularly presses the Government of Liberia to end the fighting. In meetings of Security Council members we have urged all parties to the conflict to begin ceasefire negotiations. We have called on all states to stop supporting armed groups in Liberia. We believe that providing military assistance to any armed group in Liberia would be a breach of Un sanctions against Liberia (as renewed by UN Security Council Resolution 1408 on 6 May 2002). We support the efforts of the various regional and local initiatives under the auspices of the Economic Community of West African States, King Mohammed of Morocco, the Liberian Leadership Forum and the Inter-Religious Council of Liberia, to find a solution to the conflict in Liberia. A Security Council Workshop on the Mano River Union (Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea), which was held on our initiative and chaired by my noble Friend Baroness Amos on 18 July, identified the need for greater co-ordination between these initiatives. We also provide political and diplomatic support to the EU presidency representative to the Mano River Union.

Central African Republic

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the relationship between the Central African Republic and its neighbouring countries.

Denis MacShane: The relationship between the Central African Republic (CAR) and its neighbours is linked to political and social tensions within the country. There was an attempted coup in May 2001 and fighting in November, and serious economic difficulties continue.
	Relations with Chad deteriorated late last year when President Deby granted political asylum to General Bozize, former Chief of Staff of the CAR armed forces, allegedly implicated in the May 2001 coup attempt. There was fighting in the border area, but the two governments are now working to reduce tension.
	Relations with the Government of DRC are minimal, but the border area is under the control of DRC rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba. CAR's relations with Bemba were reportedly strained because the CAR Government believed that he had supported the May 2001 coup attempt; and exacerbated when 23,000 civilians and 1,250 soldiers fled to DRC. Most refugees have now returned with the opening of dialogue between the Government of CAR and their political opposition.
	Sudan and CAR currently enjoy good relations. The Sudanese were the first to respond to President Patasse's request for a peacekeeping force following the coup attempt in May 2001.
	Cameroon and CAR also enjoy good relations. Negotiations are in train on border delineation and the free movement of goods.
	We are not aware of any significant problems in relations between CAR and the Republic of Congo.

Zimbabwe

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had and what representations (a) he has made and (b) plans to make on the moving of international sporting events from Zimbabwe, as part of his policy on sanctions against Mr. Mugabe.

Denis MacShane: It is for the relevant sporting bodies to decide whether Zimbabwe is a suitable venue for international events in the light of the security, political and humanitarian situation in that country. The FCO travel advice highlights our concerns about political and social unrest and violence in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was discussed at the meeting with Foreign Minister Mudenge on 10 November 2001; and what the conclusions were from that meeting.

Denis MacShane: During the meeting my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary expressed concern at Zimbabwe's failure to honour commitments made at the commonwealth ministerial meeting in Abuja in September 2001. There were no conclusions recorded from the meeting.

Sierra Leone

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the appeal of the UN Security Council President for additional funding for peace building support in Sierra Leone.

Denis MacShane: With the assistance of the United Nations, regional countries and the UK, Sierre Leone is emerging from over a decade of civil war and destruction. President Kabbah has appointed a new government following peaceful elections in May. The focus is now moving from conflict resolution to development. The challenges facing the new government have been identified by the UN to include security, reintegration, governance/corruption, poverty reduction and human right/reconciliation. The UK remains strongly committed to helping rebuild Sierra Leone. My noble Friend the Baroness Amos chaired a meeting of the Security Council on 18 July, which considered how best the international community could continue to engage in Sierra Leone and reduce conflict in the Mano River Union.

Sierra Leone

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that the international community continues to protect the peace process in Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: Ending the conflict in Sierra Leone after more than a decade of brutal civil war and destruction is a remarkable achievement. It comes as a result of the sustained engagement and commitment of the international community, particularly the United Nations, the UK and regional leaders. But the peace will remain fragile as long as many of the root causes of the war are not resolved. This is why it is so important for the international community to continue to support the efforts of the new Government of Sierra Leone, formed by President Kabbah after his re-election in May.
	We expect to spend some 100 million in Sierra Leone related activities in 200203, including 36 million in assessed contributions to the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL). We continue to urge other donors to come forward and help us provide the support needed by the Government of Sierra Leone to meet the many challenges ahead in consolidating the peace and rebuilding the country and the lives of its citizens.

Sierra Leone

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports his Department has received concerning divisions between Sierra Leone's army and the Sierra Leone People's party; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: None. The army is accountable to the democratic Government of Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the threat posed to peace and stability in Sierra Leone by (a) President Charles Taylor of Liberia and (b) Revolutionary United Front insurgents and Kamajor militia inside Liberia.

Denis MacShane: The role of President Taylor in destabilising Sierra Leone and prolonging the war there through his support for the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels has been well documented in the reports of the UN Expert Panel on Liberia. Although the conflict in Sierra Leone has now ended and UN sanctions against Liberia have disrupted President Taylor's links with the RUF rebels, we believe that Taylor still has links with the RUF and harbours intentions to cause renewed instability in Sierra Leone.
	One of the risks to stability in Sierra Leone is that the fighting in Liberia could spill into Sierra Leone. There are reports of RUF fighters fighting on President Taylor's behalf in Liberia, and of Kamajor (or Civil Defence Force) fighters from Sierra Leone fighting for the Liberian dissident group, Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD). To ensure that our large commitment to restoring peace to Sierra Leone is not wasted, we will monitor closely the threats posed by President Taylor, RUF fighters in Liberia, incursions by armed groups from Liberia and flows of deserters and refugees.

Sierra Leone

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has collated concerning the fairness of the May electoral process in Sierra Leone; and in particular the levels of fraud and coercion; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The legislative and presidential elections held simultaneously in May 2002 were free from violence and generally credible. Eminent international observers representing the EU, the Commonwealth, the OAU and ECOWAS, and the Carter Foundation noted that, while the elections were not flawless, the overall results reflected the will of the overwhelming majority of ordinary Sierra Leoneans.
	The success of the elections was a remarkable achievement for a country just emerging from over a decade of war and destruction, and is further evidence of the international community's commitment to resolving conflict and bringing peace to Sierra Leone. Despite Opposition concerns over the conduct of the elections, they have decided to accept the results in the interests of moving the country forward. We have reiterated to President Kabbah our continued support to his efforts to consolidate the peace, improve governance and bring prosperity to Sierra Leone for the benefit of all Sierra Leoneans.

Sierra Leone

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs until when the UN Mission and the British military and police training teams are scheduled to remain in Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The end of the conflict in Sierra Leone does not mean that sustainable peace has been achieved. Consolidating the peace will require the continued engagement of the international community for the foreseeable future.
	It is right therefore that the UN Secretary-General re-examine the role and composition of the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL). As a member of the UN Security Council and a key player in the Sierra Leone peace process, we are taking part in the discussion of UNAMSIL's future. We support the Secretary-General's intention to consider a phased drawdown according to timings yet to be agreed, taking into account the vital role UNAMSIL continues to play in maintaining peace in Sierra Leone.
	In December 2001, we announced our intention to re-configure our military presence in Sierra Leone. From the end of July, we will focus our military engagement there on a contribution of about 100 troops leading the International Military Advisory Training Team, which over the next three years, and possible thereafter, will be responsible for taking forward training for the new Sierra Leone army. A police project was designed for implementation over a period of three to five years, commencing December 2000. A review of the project has recently been completed, seeking to ensure that the police are able to fulfil their responsibilities for providing internal security by the time that UN troops withdraw.

Sierra Leone

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to seek to ensure that Revolutionary United Front insurgents and Kamajor militias inside Liberia will not be a threat to peace and stability in Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: We take very seriously the threat posed by Liberia to peace in Sierra Leone. We have worked with the Government of Sierra Leone to ensure that the new Republic of Sierra Leone armed forces (largely trained by the UK) are deployed in strength on the Liberian border and regularly patrol the border. Some UK military advisers are deployed alongside these Sierra Leonean units. We have also encouraged the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Sierra Leone, UNAMSIL, to maintain regular patrolling of the border areas. Sierra Leonean armed forces and UNAMSIL have successfully intercepted armed groups crossing from Liberia into Sierra Leone. We played a leading role in securing the renewal of UN sanctions against Liberia in May. These sanctions, which include an arms embargo, a ban on the export of diamonds and a travel ban on President Taylor and his associates, continue to put pressure on President Taylor to break his links with the RUF rebels and restrict his ability to procure arms and destabilise Sierra Leone. We have made it clear to the Government of Sierra Leone and the Government of Guinea that they should take steps to prevent the recruitment of fighters, including from the Civil Defence Force and Kamajors, for the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) within their countries. But Sierra Leone's stability will be threatened for as long as there is fighting in Liberia. We are supporting international and regional moves to promote a ceasefire in Liberia.

G8 Summit

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what plans there are for taking forward the commitments made at the G8 summit to support African efforts to consolidate peace in (a) Angola and (b) Sierra Leone;
	(2)  what plans there are for taking forward the commitments made at the G8 Summit to support African efforts to resolve conflict in (a) the Democratic Republic of Congo and (b) the Sudan.

Denis MacShane: In the Africa Action Plan, adopted at Kananaskis in June, G8 leaders committed themselves to providing additional support to efforts to bring peace to the DRC and Sudan, and to consolidate peace in Angola and Sierra Leone within the next year. The Africa Action Plan is a welcome basis for increased effort and greater co-ordination with other countries involved in providing political and financial support.

G8 Summit

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the G8 will take forward discussions relating to war economies.

Denis MacShane: In the Africa Action Plan, adopted at Kananaskis in June, G8 leaders committed themselves to working with African governments, civil society and others to address the linkage between armed conflict and the exploitation of natural resources. A number of multilateral initiatives are already underway, for example the Kimberley Process which attempts to limit the trade in conflict diamonds, and the UN expert panels working on resource exploitation in DR Congo and Liberia. In the coming months the UK will also be seeking greater and more effective dialogue between G8 countries and the private sector on ensuring better accountability and greater transparency, and on promoting the adoption of voluntary principles of corporate social responsibility by companies involved in developing Africa's economic resources.

Kashmir

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with (a) the Governments of India and Pakistan, (b) other Governments and (c) international agencies with regard to seeking a resolution to the continuing violence in Kashmir.

Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary visited India and Pakistan on 1920 July, and had discussions with the governments of both countries on the subject of Kashmir. He welcomed the recent lowering of tensions between the two countries, but encouraged both to continue to take steps to continue the de-escalatory process. He reminded both governments that in the longer term, only full dialogue on all outstanding isssues, including Kashmir, will pave the way for lasting solutions.
	Although this is a bilateral dispute, it has potent international implications. We have been active in working with our international partners, including through the EU, the G8 and the UN, to encourage India and Pakistan to find ways to return to productive dialogue.

Entry Clearance

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the opening hours of the entry clearance posts in (a) Islamabad, (b) Lahore, (c) Mumbai and (d) New Delhi are; and how many applications were made for visitors' visas in those centres on 15 July.

Mike O'Brien: Our office in Mumbai is open Monday to Friday between 0800 and 1130 for personal callers and 0900 to 1200 for the drop box. They received 275 visitor applications on 15 July.
	New Delhi is open Monday to Friday between 0800 and 1200. They received 433 visitor applications on 15 July.
	Due to the security situation in Islamabad the visa section is not open to personal callers. A restricted service is being provided, with applications delivered by a local courier service. On the 15 July Islamabad received 483 applications.
	The visa issuing office in Lahore has been closed; a future service there will be dependent on identifying a new property which can be made suitably secure.
	We are working to resume a fuller visa service in Pakistan as soon as the security situation allows.

Visa Facilities

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will meet the hon. Member for Leicester East and other hon. Members to discuss the reduced visa facilities, in New Delhi, Mumbai, Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore.

Mike O'Brien: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 23 July Official Report, column 887W.

Iran

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he had collated on how many executions there were on average in Iran each month in each year since 1997 and 2002 to date; how many women and men have been stoned to death since President Khatami came to power; and how many women and men have been punished by flogging in the same period; and what estimate he has made of the impact of his representations on these matters to the Government of Iran in the last 10 months.

Mike O'Brien: Precise figures are not available. But drawing on press reporting, information from NGOs and from the annual reports of the UN Special Representative for Human Rights in Iran, we estimate that:
	(a) there were at least 199 executions in 1997, 155 in 1998, 165 in 1999, 130 in 2000 and 139 in 2001. There were at least 49 up to the end of May this year;
	(b) three men and three women were stoned to death in 1997 and two, possibly three, women in 2001. We have heard of three sentences against women in 2002, but we do not yet know whether they have been carried out;
	(c) we have no figures for floggings in 1997 or 1998 but are aware of at least 360 between 1999 and the end of 2001.
	The British Government opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and urges all states to abolish the death penalty. Debate on such issues is growing in Iran and we and EU partners continue to make clear our views to the Iranian Government at every suitable opportunity.

Iran

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Iran on the discrimination against women set out in child custody laws reported on by the UN special representative for Human Rights in Iran in the report to the UN Human Rights Commission earlier this year.

Mike O'Brien: We have not made any specific representations on this subject. But the UK plays a leading role in promoting and protecting the rights of women. The most recent UN Commission on Human Rights Resolution on Human Rights in Iran, which the UK co-sponsored as a member of the EU, noted systematic discrimination against women and girls in law and in practice. It called upon the Government of Iran to take further measures to ensure full and equal enjoyment by women and girls of their human rights. We will continue to monitor developments in this area.

East Timor

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 9 May 2002, Official Report, column 310W, on East Timor, if he has congratulated the Government of Indonesia on their President's visit to East Timor to take part in the Independence Day celebrations on 20 May 2002; and what representations he made about the warships which accompanied the President.

Mike O'Brien: We welcomed President Megawati's decision to attend the independence celebrations in East Timor. This was an important signal of Indonesia's commitment to developing a strong bilateral relationship with an independent East Timor.
	The British Embassy in Dili kept in close contact with the East Timorese Foreign Minister who took a pragmatic and measured response to the Indonesian warships entering their waters as part of the protection for the President's visit.

Cayman Islands (Human Rights)

David Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what legal challenges he has received to the application of the Human Rights Act 1998 in the Cayman Islands.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 23 July 2002
	None. The Human Rights Act 1998 has not been extended to the Cayman Islands.

Cayman Islands (Human Rights)

David Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what legal challenges he has received in respect of application of the European Convention on Human Rights in the Cayman Islands, effective under clause 53(1) of the Human Rights Act 1998.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 23 July 2002
	None. The Cayman Islands has accepted the extension by the UK of the European Convention on Human Rights to the Cayman Islands, but not the right of individual petition.

Cayman Islands (Human Rights)

David Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 16 July 2002, Official Report, column 175W, on overseas territories, if he will list those overseas territories with whom Her Majesty's Government are in consultation about refining and improving their statistical returns.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 23 July 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Andrew Mackinlay) today (UIN71571).

EU Committees

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the United Kingdom's representation on the European Union's Economic and Social Committee.

Peter Hain: The Government has submitted to the Council Secretariat details of the United Kingdom's twenty-four nominees for membership of the Economic and Social Committee, along with twenty-four reserve nominees.
	
		
			 Nominees  
		
		
			 Group I  
			 Bryan Cassidy Consultant 
			 David Sears Former Deputy Director General, British Chamber of Commerce 
			 Ben Butters Director, Small Business/Europe 
			 Donna St. Hill International Consultant 
			 Sheila Ritchie Solicitor 
			 Brenda King Chair, African and Caribbean Finance Forum 
			 Robert Baird Economist 
			 Clive Wilkinson Consultant, Gin and Vodka Association 
			   
			 Group II  
			 David Feickart TUC European Officer 
			 Sir Ken Jackson AMICUS 
			 Alison Shepherd Vice President, UNISON 
			 Monica Taylor Transport and General Workers' Union 
			 Judy McKnight General Secretary, NAPO 
			 Derek Hunter Regional Secretary GMB Southern Region 
			 Sandy Boyle Deputy General Secretary, UNIFI 
			 Brian Curtis RMT Regional Organiser 
			
			 Group III  
			 Ann Davison Executive Director, European Research into Consumer Affairs 
			 Rose D'Sa Law Professor, University of Glamorgan 
			 Sukhdev Sharma Former Chief Executive, Commission for Racial Equality 
			 Richard Adams Fairtrade Foundation 
			 John Simpson Consultant Economist 
			 Madi Sharma Managing Director 
			 Maureen O'Neil Director, Age Concern, Scotland 
			 Claire Whitten Executive Director, Northern Ireland Centre in Europe 
			   
			 The reserve nominees are:  
			 Group I  
			 Len Collinson Management Consultant 
			 Brendan Burns Company Director, Burns, Burns and Burns 
			 Kathleen Secker City College Norwich 
			 William McKee DG British Property Federation 
			 Brian Prime Federation of Small Businesses 
			 Brian Rostron Director General, Confederation of UK Coal Producers 
			 Edmund Tucker Consultant, Scotch Whiskey Association 
			 Gary Parker Forum for Private Business 
			   
			 Group II  
			 Nicholas Clark Policy Officer, GPMU 
			 Andrew Baird Regional Secretary (Scotland) Transport and General Workers Union 
			 Danny Carrigan National Officer, AMICUS 
			 Jim McCusker NIPSA 
			 Peter Bunting Assistant Secretary, Irish Congress of Trade Unions 
			 Patrick Carragher General Secretary, British Association of Colliery Management 
			 Tom Leney Association of Teachers and Lecturers 
			 Anne Middleton STUC 
			   
			 Group III  
			 Bill Ure Secretary, Rail Passengers Committee Scotland 
			 Hamish Morrison Chief Executive, Scottish Fishermen's Association 
			 Laura Hayes Director, Management Development and Coaching Programmes 
			 Jane McKay Glasgow Trades Union Council 
			 Barbara Kelly Former Chair, Scottish Consumer Council 
			 Rita Rees Brain Injured and Families European Confederation 
			 Naomi Sargant Visiting Professor, The Open University 
			 Shahwar Sadeque Former Commissioner for Racial Equality

European Bodies

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the proposed percentage increase in staff following the forthcoming enlargement to the (a) Commission, (b) Council of Ministers, (c) Court of Justice and (d) European Parliament in relation to the percentage of the population of the respective applicant counties; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: The Government accept that enlargement requires additional staff in the EU institutions, and will continue to scrutinise proposals from the institutions closely.
	The Government reiterate the importance of keeping to the financial agreement reached at Berlin as well as to the timetable for enlargement agreed at Gothenburg and Laeken. The UK will work to ensure the necessary human resources are made available to make enlargement a successbut believe this is achievable within the agreed budgetary ceilings. The Government note the proposal for a Standing Committee debate as proposed by the European Scrutiny Committee.

Enron

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the reviews by the Turks and Caicos Islands and Cayman Islands of Enron-related offshore companies.

Mike O'Brien: The United Kingdom's overseas territories are expected to co-operate internationally and regulate their financial services sector in line with international standards. The Cayman Islands Monetary Authority and the Turks and Caicos Islands Financial Services Commission respectively are responsible for the regulation of the financial sector in the Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands, including licensed company service providers who are responsible for ensuring that non-resident companies comply with the laws and regulations of the territories concerned. The regulatory and criminal investigation authorities in both territories are actively assisting the Securities and Exchange Commission and other relevant authorities in the United States, where the investigation into the Enron case is currently focused. In the event that regulatory or criminal offences involving Enron subsidiaries were to be discovered in either jurisdiction, it would be for the legal and regulatory authorities in the Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands, in co-operation with the US and other authorities, to consider appropriate action to enforce the law.

United States (Terrorism)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of the United States of America concerning the US Justice Department's planned terrorism information and prevention system; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: We are monitoring the developments in the USA although we have had no formal discussions on this issue at this point. The Terrorism and Prevention System is a US Department of Justice proposal to develop a reliable and comprehensive national system for reporting suspicious and potentially terrorist-related activity. The system is to be developed in conjunction with federal agencies and industry.

Weapons of Mass Destruction

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how he plans to hold to account countries that have reneged on their ratification of global treaties on the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

Mike O'Brien: When a country ratifies an international treaty, it places itself under the obligations of that treaty once it is in force. The global treaties dealing with weapons of mass destruction, such as the existing chemical weapons convention and the treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, have mechanisms aimed at ensuring compliance with their provisions. While the biological and toxin weapons convention has no comparable mechanisms, procedures exist for clarifying concerns.
	The UK routinely monitors the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and is a strong supporter of the effective functioning of treaty compliance mechanisms. We also work with the OPCW and IAEA to ensure that the verification and inspection mechanisms are as effective as possible. Other methods may also be employed as appropriate, including bilateral discussions. We have to be ready to make full use of all instruments to deter and uncover those who do not comply with their international obligations.

Arms Exports

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 12 July 2002, Official Report, column 1256W, on arms exports, to which EU countries representations were made by the UK Government about the new criteria; what representations were made by the UK Government about the EU consolidated criteria on arms exports; what representations have been made to the UK Government by the EU member states about the introduction of the new criteria; and when these representations were made.

Mike O'Brien: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave her on 12 July 2002, Official Report, column 1256W, in which I said HMG conducted two rounds of consultations with other EU member states to find out their approach to export license applications for goods to be incorporated into products for onward export. All EU member states have been approached at least once over the last two months. Some were approached a second time in order to clarify the information they provided. The application to such cases of the EU Code of Conduct on arms exports was covered in these discussions.
	No representations have been made to HMG by EU member states about my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's reply on 8 July 2002 to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Sherwood (Paddy Tipping), Official Report, columns 65052W.

Export Licences

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 8 July 2002, Official Report, columns 65052W, on export licences, with which countries the Government attach importance to the maintenance of a strong and dynamic defence relationship.

Mike O'Brien: Pursuant to the answer of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 8 July 2002, Official Report, columns 65052W, the Government attach importance to maintaining strong and dynamic defence relationships with our NATO allies, our EU partners, and many other countries around the world who share our commitment to international peace and stability.

Rapid Reaction Embassies

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs where he plans to instigate his first rapid reaction embassies.

Denis MacShane: We were the first western embassy to open in Kabul. This involved extremely rapid provision of personnel, vehicles and IT communicating equipment.
	It is not possible to predict where the next rapid deployment will be.

Applications for Asylum

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the method of handling the applications for asylum by two boys in Melbourne on 18 July.

Denis MacShane: It is the responsibility of the Australian authorities to deal with applications for asylum in Australia in accordance with their obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention. While the brothers remained in the Consulate in Melbourne they were allowed access to legal representation, provided with food and drink, and given the opportunity to telephone their parents.

Overseas Territories

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 16 July 2002, Official Report, column 175W, on overseas territories, with which overseas territories his Department is consulting about refining and improving their statistical returns.

Mike O'Brien: holding reply of 22 July
	We maintain a dialogue with all overseas territories over governance issues including, as appropriate, statistics. HMG is providing assistance to help refine and improve the statistical returns in Anguilla and Turks and Caicos Islands through DFID's development programme and has, in the past, provided such assistance to Gibraltar. St. Helena has received similar support through the United Nations Development Programme. In addition, the Governments of other Overseas Territories have from time to time employed external consultants to assist them in producing statistical data. This has been the case in the British Virgin Islands, Bermuda and Cayman Islands.

Travellers Tips

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 17 July 2002, ref. 68235, if he will list his travellers tips for gay travellers and his guidelines on forced marriage.

Mike O'Brien: The tips for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender travellers and the guidelines for the police on forced marriage are both available on the FCO websitewww.fco.gov.uk.

Parliamentary Answers

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  for how long he retains documents referred to in parliamentary answers on his Department's website;
	(2)  whether it is his policy to ensure that documents referred to in parliamentary answers are available via his Department's website.

Denis MacShane: This Department aims to be as helpful as possible in responding to hon. Members' questions. Where it is helpful to refer hon. Members to other documents as part of the substantive reply, this may be done by making hard copies of documents available in the Libraries of the House, or by reference to material available on the Department's website. Such documents are currently retained on the FCO website indefinitely.
	The FCO also adheres to Office of the e-Envoy Guidelines for UK Government Websites, which sets out policy on website content and information management.

Malcolm Rennie/Brian Peters

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 21 June 2002, Official Report, column 633W, on Malcolm Rennie/Brian Peters, whether the document that his Department has agreed to publish will include (a) the Department's correspondence with Mr. Rennie's and Mr. Peters' families from 1975 to 1977 and (b) the minutes of the meetings with Mr. Horta in 1976 and Mr. Dunn in 1977.

Mike O'Brien: The political files relating to the Indonesian intervention in East Timor and the deaths at Balibo that the FCO will be releasing shortly will include:
	the minutes of a meeting that an FCO official held with Mr. Horta in February 1976;
	documents about an approach made to the FCO in 1976 by an MP on behalf of relatives of Malcolm Rennie. I am informed that other correspondence with relatives of Mr. Rennie and Mr. Peters was routinely destroyed after some years in accordance with the usual practice for consular case files.
	We were requested to release files from 1975 and 1976 and did not, therefore, intend to release documents from 1977.

Bilateral Ministerial Meetings

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 20 June 2002, Official Report, columns 53435W, on bilateral ministerial meetings, on what date Baroness Amos visited Dublin in July 2001; and which Ministers she met during her visit.

Peter Hain: On 22 July 2001, my noble Friend Baroness Amos attended the memorial service in Dublin to mark the 25th anniversary of the assassination in 1976 of Christopher Ewart-Biggs, Ambassador to Ireland. She met the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, and the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen, as well as a number of other senior Irish representatives.

UN Special Rapporteur

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to support the establishment of a UN Special Rapporteur on violence against children.

Denis MacShane: The Government are appalled by the use of violence against children and we fully support the UN mechanisms that tackle the issue of violence against children. These include:
	the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography
	the Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, its causes and consequences (which covers the girl child)
	the Secretary-General's Special Representative on Children in Armed Conflict.
	We also fully supported calls for a study on violence which is being carried out by the UN Secretary-General, and we await the results of this study.
	Given the existing mechanisms, we do not believe that the creation of an additional Special Rapporteur would be the most efficient or practical way of addressing the immediate problems faced by these children although we continue to consider all proposals on their merits.

Grant in Aid

John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the actual and planned grant-in-aid to the (a) BBC World Service and (b) British Council for each of the years 199091 to 200506, expressed in constant prices.

Denis MacShane: The table lists actual grant in aid outturns for the BBC World Service and the British Council from 199091 to 200102 and plans for 200203 to 200506. All figures are stated in real terms at current prices (200203). Plans are on a full resource budgeting basis, net of depreciation. From 199798 the BBC World Service grant in aid has included c. 4 million in respect of overseas relay station costs transferred from the FCO and from 199899 it has included c. 4 million to 5 million in respect of the World Service's subscription to BBC Monitoring.
	
		 million real terms (200203 prices) 
		
			  BBC World Service British Council 
		
		
			 199091 192 109 
			 199192 186 119 
			 199293 189 118 
			 199394 196 121 
			 199495 194 121 
			 199596 196 123 
			 199697 181 119 
			 199798 177 108 
			 199899 178 139 
			 19992000 182 144 
			 200001 191 145 
			 200102 193 149 
			 200203 201 157 
			 200304 215 166 
			 200405 214 167 
			 200506 222 172

Consultation

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what public consultations have been commenced by his Department since 1 April; and what the (a) closing date and (b) website address of each were.

Denis MacShane: The following consultation document has been issued since 1 April 2002:
	Strengthening the biological and toxin weapons convention: countering the threat from biological weapons.
	The closing date is 13 September 2002.
	The website address is http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/ kfile/btwc290402,0.pdf or the page can be accessed through the Consultations page in the Documents and Reference area on the FCO website.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the (a) dates, (b) location and (c) sources were of attributable (i) articles, interviews or contributions for the media, books or other journals and (ii) speeches or presentations made in the public domain, by departmental special advisers since March 2001; who in his Department authorised the activity; and on what date this activity was recorded with the departmental Head of Information.

Jack Straw: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to this question by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister today (UIN 72246).

Temporary Staff

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many employees under contract from temping agencies worked in his Department; and how much was spent on temporary staff (a) as a total and (b) as a percentage of the total staffing budget in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Mike O'Brien: We do not have a central record of the numbers of staff employed under contract from agencies and it would involve disproportionate cost to obtain them. We do, however, have the costs, which are:
	
		
			   of which:  
			 FY Paybill costs () Agency costs () Percentage 
		
		
			 199798 188,078,000 445,944 0.24 
			 199899 189,169,000 804,788 0.43 
			 19992000 200,368,000 971,657 0.48 
			 200001 204,900,000 1,255,817 0.61 
			 200102(57) 217,997,000 1,933,841 0.89 
		
	
	(57) 200102 paybill provisional costs

Departmental Jobs

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many jobs under the remit of his Department in (a) the core Department, (b) non-departmental public bodies, (c) executive agencies and (d) independent statutory bodies, organisations and bodies financially sponsored by his Department and (e) embassy, consular other such organisations, are located in (i) Scotland, (ii) England, excluding Greater London, (iii) Greater London, (iv) Wales, (v) Northern Ireland and (vi) overseas, broken down by (A) whole-time equivalent jobs and (B) the percentage per individual Department, body or organisation.

Denis MacShane: The information requested is detailed in the table. The figures for FCO UK based staff appear in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's departmental report 2002. The figures for NDPBs and the BBC World Service will appear shortly in the Cabinet Office publication Public Bodies 2002.
	
		
			   Scotland  England  Greater London  
			  Staff Percentage Staff Percentage Staff Percentage 
		
		
			 FCO   
			 (i) UK based 0.00 0.00 750.00 12.80 2,784.00 47.51 
			 (ii) Locally Employed (LE) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			
			 NDPBs   
			 Britain-Russia Centre 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 3.50 100.00 
			 British Association for Central and Eastern Europe 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 5.00 100.00 
			 British Council 26.00 0.36 418.00 5.71 601.00 8.21 
			 Great Britain-China Centre 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 6.00 100.00 
			 Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.50 100.00 
			 Westminster Foundation for Democracy 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 11.00 100.00 
			
			 Wilton Park 0.00 0.00 61.00 100.00 0.00 0.00 
			
			 BBC World Service 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,606.00 86.67 
		
	
	
		
			   Wales  Northern Ireland  Overseas  
			  Staff Percentage Staff Percentage Staff Percentage Total 
		
		
			 FCO
			 (i) UK based 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2,326.00 39.69 (58)5,860.00 
			 (ii) Locally Employed (LE) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 9,512.00 100.00 (58)9,512.00 
			 
			 NDPBs:
			 Britain-Russia Centre 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 3.50 
			 British Association for Central and Eastern Europe 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 5.00 
			 British Council 6.00 0.08 28.00 0.38 6,237.00 85.25 (59)7,316.00 
			 Great BritainChina Centre 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 6.00 
			 Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.50 
			 Westminster Foundation for Democracy 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 11.00 
			 
			 Wilton Park 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 61.00 
			 
			 BBC World Service 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 247.00 13.33 (60)1,853.00 
		
	
	(58) The staff numbers for FCO include staff working at posts overseas, and include consular staff
	(59) The staff figures for British Council include staff on local contracts and teachers on contract
	(60) The staff figures for BBC World Service includes BBC Monitoring staff

Asylum Seekers

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under what circumstances asylum seekers would be handed over by the staff in UK overseas missions to the local authorities; if he will list how often this has happened in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: Whether a person seeking asylum in a UK mission overseas would be handed over to the local authorities would depend on the circumstances of each case. There is no general right for persons to seek asylum in a UK mission overseas.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

EU Committees (Scottish Representation)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee for senior labour inspectors is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	The EU Committee for senior labour inspectors is due to next meet in 57 November 2002.
	No representative of the Scottish Executive is, or has been, a member of it. The UK is, however, adequately represented.

Directives (Trade Barriers)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of directives on the removal of technical barriers to trade in the sector of explosives for civilian uses is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	No date has yet been fixed for the next meeting of this Committee. Officials from the Health and Safety Executive, which is sponsored by my Department, represent the UK on the Committee as policy responsibility for health and safety is a reserved matter. However, officials would consult the Scottish Executive in the event that there were agenda items in which it has an interest in accordance with our Concordat with the devolved Administrations.

Arms Exports

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arms export licences to (a) India and (b) Pakistan her Department examined from January 2000 to June 2002; how many were (i) approved and (ii) denied in each month ; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: The number of Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) issued and refused in each month from January 2000 to June 2002 is as follows:
	
		
			India  Pakistan  
			   SIELs issued SIELs refused SIELs issued SIELs refused 
		
		
			 2000 
			 January 84 1 0 0 
			 February 57 1 0 2 
			 March 42 8 0 1 
			 April 14 4 0 0 
			 May 44 9 0 0 
			 June 122 3 1 0 
			 July 49 12 17 30 
			 August 72 5 0 0 
			 September 63 0 5 0 
			 October 64 16 29 2 
			 November 58 8 15 4 
			 December 30 5 21 13 
			  
			 2001 
			 January  4  4 
			 February  14  9 
			 March  5  3 
			 April  12  2 
			 May  16  6 
			 June  9  4 
			 July  3  0 
			
			 August  7  4 
			 September  8  1 
			 October 66 5 35 0 
			 November 50 2 17 0 
			 December 73 4 8 3 
			  
			 2002 
			 January 22 7 3 2 
			 February 33 6 1 0 
			 March 88 9 38 1 
			 April 106 4 16 3 
			 May 53 12 7 2 
			 June 2 4 0 0 
		
	
	The number of Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) issued and refused, where the end users were in India and Pakistan, in each month between January 2000 and June 2002 is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	For information on SIELs and OIELs issued, where the end users were in India and Pakistan, between January 2001 and September 2001, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the right hon. and learned Member for North-East Fife (Mr. Campbell) on 15 July 2002, Official Report, columns 7778W.
	Details of all individual export licences issued and refused are published by destination in the Government's Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls, copies of which are placed in the Libraries of the House.

Arms Exports

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of UK arms exports she estimates to have been incorporated into products for annual export in each year since 1997.

Nigel Griffiths: I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Llwyd) on 18 March 2002, Official Report, column 54W.

Departmental Policies (Isle of Wight)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the activities pursued by her Department that have had a particular impact on the Isle of Wight since 7 June 2001.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 10 June 2002
	There are a wide variety of Trade and Industry initiatives being undertaken to help the Isle of Wight economy that are delivered by a number of different agencies. Among those initiatives that have had a particular impact since 7 June 2001, is the south-east RDA-led Isle of Wight Enterprise Hub initiative that has secured 500,000 funding to upgrade skills in the composites and advanced materials sector; DTI Smart Scheme grants totalling 230,517 offered to three companies; and DTI Enterprise Scheme grants totalling 468,135 offered to 18 companies.

Company Takeovers

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received on the takeover offer made on 28 March by GBV Funfte GmbH, for the whole of the issued share capital of Innogy Holdings plc with regard to the requirements of section 429(4) of the Companies Act and Schedule 12 to the Financial Services Act 1986; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has received two written representations on behalf of shareholders raising issues concerning section 429(4) of the Companies Act 1985 and Schedule 12 to the Financial Services Act 1986 and arising from the above takeover offer.

Data Protection Act

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact of the Data Protection Act 1998 on business transactions and volume of paperwork which has resulted.

Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
	I apologise for the delay in replying. This was due to an administrative oversight. An estimate of the likely impact upon business of the Data Protection Act 1998 is contained in the December 1997 Regulatory Impact Assessment on the EC data protection directive to which the 1998 Act gives effect. This shows recurring costs to business of 630 million a year, and non-recurring costs of 836 million. The regulatory impact assessment is available on the Lord Chancellor's Department's website (www.lcd.gov.uk), and a copy is in the Library of the House. I have no additional quantified information on the impact of the 1998 Act on business transactions or the volume of paperwork.

Data Protection Act

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received from businesses as to difficulties in meeting the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998; and if she will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply. 
	I apologise for the delay in replying. This was due to an administrative oversight. About 25 organisations representing business interests responded to the Government's autumn 2000 consultation on the impact of the Data Protection Act 1998. A list of the respondents is in the summary of responses which was published in December 2001. The summary of responses is available on the Lord Chancellor's Department's website (www.lcd.gov.uk), and a copy is in the Library of the House. Since the consultation, the Lord Chancellor's Department has additionally received a small number of representations from or on behalf of businesses.

Auditors

John Burnett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is on rotation of companies' auditors for quoted public companies; and if she will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: The Government will consider the need for rotation of statutory auditors for quoted public companies in the light of the interim report of the Co-ordinating Group on Audit and Accountancy issues.

Auditing

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what new steps she is taking to tighten the rules on auditing procedures.

Melanie Johnson: The Government will consider the need to review auditing procedures in the light of the interim report of the Co-ordinating Group on Audit and Accountancy issues.

Export Centres

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether an application was made by Harvey Logistics/Harvey Military Supplies in 2001 for the export of mortar bombs and parts of mortar primers to Namibia.

Nigel Griffiths: The Department of Trade and Industry's export control organisation does not normally comment on export licence applications, which are commercially confidential and exempt from disclosure under Part II, Exemption 13 and 14 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Details of all relevant export licences issued and refused since 2 May 1997 are published by destination in the Government's Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls, copies of which are placed in the Libraries of the House.

Trawlermen (Compensation)

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of processed claims made under the Icelandic Waters Trawlermen's compensation scheme have been rejected.

Nigel Griffiths: Excluding duplicates, 60 per cent. of claims have been accepted and 40 per cent. of claims have been rejected. The calculation does not include claims that have not yet been decided. It includes as rejections claims that have been rejected but are being reviewed by the Department or have been referred to the independent adjudicator.

WorldCom

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what complaints were received by her Department about accounting practices at WorldCom in Britain in 1999; and what action was taken to investigate.

Melanie Johnson: It is a long established practice that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry does not comment on the affairs of individual companies nor does she confirm or deny any particular investigation.

Accountancy and Audit Regulator

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether her co-ordinating Group on Audit and Accountancy issues (a) has discussed and (b) will discuss (i) an independent Regulator of Accountancy and (ii) a ban on sales of other services by auditors to audit clients.

Melanie Johnson: The Co-ordinating Group has discussed both regulation of the accountancy profession and the provision of non-audit services by auditors to their audit clients. I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry earlier today.

Accountancy and Audit Regulator

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  whether she plans to review major reform in accountancy regulation (a) now and (b) at the end of the first five years of the existence of the Accountancy Foundation;
	(2)  what plans she has to set up an Independent Regulator for Accountancy and Audit.

Melanie Johnson: The Government will consider the need to review accountancy regulation in the light of the interim report of the Co-ordinating Group on Audit and Accountancy issues.

Gas Storage

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals her Department has to encourage oil and gas companies to utilise existing offshore gas reservoirs for re-injected gas storage; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: Making such proposals is a commercial matter for the oil and gas companies; the Department stands ready to assess such proposals for the purpose of issuing the necessary consents, notably production licences and pipe-line authorisations. Meanwhile the Department and Ofgem are ensuring industry and public awareness of the case for additional gas storage facilities, whether offshore or onshore, through the work of the Joint Energy Security of Supply Working Group (JESS). JESS's first report, published in June, noted that there is uncertainty about the adequacy of gas supplies to meet demand from consumers during a period of sustained peak demand from about 200405, and that additional infrastructure (including gas storage) may be the most efficient way of ensuring security of supply.

Gas Storage

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions her Department has had with major oil and gas companies about the future utilisation of depleted gas reservoirs in offshore fields for gas storage; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: The Department discusses this and other issues with petroleum companies from time to time. Details of such discussions are commercially confidential.

Gas Storage

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessments she has made of the (a) current volume of depleted gas reservoirs in offshore fields and (b) potential volume of gas reservoirs in offshore fields, which could be used for re-injected gas storage; and if she will make a statement about gas reservoir depletion.

Brian Wilson: It is for the oil and gas companies to make such assessments, and to come forward with commercial proposals. As gas production from some gas fields on the UK Continental Shelf stops, there may well be further opportunitiesfollowing the example of Roughto use a number of reservoirs for gas storage. Whether a particular reservoir is suitable will depend on such factors as: how far it is depleted; whether it has the right physical characteristics, including cushion gas to permit easy injection/withdrawal without excessive production of liquids; and its proximity to shore.

Gas Storage

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received about the development of onshore subterranean gas storage and processing facilities; and what her Department's policy is on the development of such facilities.

Brian Wilson: The Department discusses such schemes with oil and gas companies, and other interested parties, from time to time. Details of such discussions are commercially confidential. In correspondence with Cheshire county council my Department has noted that gas storage facilities make a valuable contribution to the reliability of physical gas supplies and to maintaining competition in the gas supply chain, and that consumers (including electricity consumers who indirectly rely on gas) benefit in both ways. I am placing a copy of my Department's letter of 27 March in the Libraries of the House.

Electricity Licences

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what electricity standard licence condition modification proposals she has received in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002.

Brian Wilson: Ofgem has notified the Secretary of State under section 11A(4) of the Electricity Act 1989 of its proposal to make the following modifications to electricity standard licence conditions since they were introduced on 1 October 2001:
	Distribution licences
	SLC5: to suspend the effect of paragraphs 2 and 3 of the condition in relation to licensees to whom SLC 49 applies.
	SLC 39 and 40: to introduce revised conditions relating to the use of certain information relating to the distribution business.
	Transmission licences
	SLC C3: to enable a change to the procedural requirements for modifying the Balancing and Settlement Code proposed by the BSC Parties.

Nuclear Industry

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations her Department has received regarding UK emission reduction obligations without nuclear energy.

Brian Wilson: The Government launched a consultation on energy policy on 14 May with a view to publishing a White Paper around the turn of the year.
	One of the questions raised in the document is how confident can we be that we can continue on a path of reducing our carbon emissions as most nuclear stations close over the next 20 years.
	We shall be posting the replies which we receive to the consultation on the DTI's website.

Small Energy Generators

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact of NETA on small energy generators.

Brian Wilson: Ofgem, the gas and electricity regulator, is currently preparing a report on the operation of NETA in its first year. This is due to be published this month and will include a section on the impact of NETA on smaller generators. I shall ensure a copy of the document is placed in the Libraries of the House.

Export Licence Applications

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when a decision will be made in respect of export licence application No 29747; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: holding answer 19 July 2002
	Licences to export arms and other items whose export is controlled for strategic reasons are issued by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry acting through the Export Control Organisation.
	A decision has not yet been reached on export licence application 29747, but will be taken as quickly as possible consistent with the need to give full consideration to the issues involved.

Business Start-ups

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what specific programmes her Department has to encourage environmental enterprise in rural areas.

Nigel Griffiths: The Farm Business Advice Service (FBAS) is one of the measures announced under the Action Plan for Farming. published in March 2000. The action plan aims to move farming forward and help farmers improve the way they run their business.
	The spread of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in the spring and summer of 2001 saw the need to design an enhanced FBAS service for farmers who had compulsorily culled their livestock as a result of FMD control measures. This service was announced in June 2001.
	The Development Fund for Rural Renewal, part of the Phoenix Fund, was announced in November 2001. 3 million is being spent to assist business communities hard hit by the foot and mouth.
	In addition, the SBS is spending 30 million up until March 2004 on 96 Phoenix Development Fund projects in disadvantaged areas and among under-represented groups in all areas. So far the development fund has enabled the start-up of over 400 new enterprises and the creation or safeguarding of more than 1,600 jobs.
	SBS is also supporting 46 Community Development Finance Initiative projects in disadvantaged areas. These CDFIs are receiving almost 20 million of support over the next two years. A number of the projects supported are researching new and innovative ways of providing last resort finance to disadvantaged communities.
	Finally, SBS' 45 business link operators assisted almost 245,000 businesses during 200102 and have helped over 18,000 new businesses to start-up in all areas.

Business Start-ups

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what partners her Department works with in identifying and encouraging enterprise in rural areas.

Nigel Griffiths: In the public sector these include the Countryside Agency and the English Tourism Council, and in the private sector organisations, as diverse as the National Farmers Union (NFU), the Village Retail Services Association (ViRSA) and the British Association of Licensed Parks, Piers and Attractions (BALLPA).

Business Start-ups

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new businesses in the environmental enterprise sector have been established with the help of resources from her Department in each year since 1997.

Nigel Griffiths: The New Business Relation Group of the DTI does not hold this information.

Business Start-ups

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) conferences and (b) seminars her Department has (i) organised and (ii) supported in the past five years aimed at stimulating new enterprises in rural areas; and what organisations have partnered her Department in these initiatives.

Nigel Griffiths: Business Link Operators, which are part-funded by the DTI, have undertaken numerous local activities which have the effect either directly or indirectly of stimulating new enterprises in rural areas e.g. attendance at agricultural shows and participating in events to promote rural social enterprise.

WEEE Directive

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on basing the proposed waste electrical and electronic equipment directive on the principle of individual producer responsibility.

Brian Wilson: DTI works very closely with all Departments, but especially with DEFRA on this directive.
	The Government support the principle of individual producer responsibility, but believe that making this mandatory might impose disproportionate cost and administrative burdens on some firms, especially SMEs with little additional environmental gain. We therefore continue to support the common position text, which would allow a collective or an individual approach.

WEEE Directive

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she has taken to ensure that the proposed waste electrical and electronic equipment directive is introduced in a way that is (a) beneficial to the environment and (b) cost-effective for the producer.

Brian Wilson: Studies undertaken by PricewaterhouseCoopers for the Department show that the WEEE directive is likely to offer significant environmental benefits over current practice. A report was written in 1999 and updated this year. It is available on the DTI website.
	We have negotiated hard in Brussels for as much flexibility as possible in the directive and will implement in the most cost-effective manner permitted by the final text, while maximising the environmental benefits. The Regulatory Impact Assessments already completed will help inform this. We will, of course, continue to consult widely.

WEEE Directive

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what responsibility for the implementation of the waste electrical and electronic equipment directive into UK law will lie with (a) her Department and (b) the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Brian Wilson: The Department has lead responsibility for negotiating this directive. We work very closely with other Government Departments, especially DEFRA. We have yet to make a decision on which Department will transpose the WEEE directive into UK law.

Company Accounts

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the way in which small firms present their accounts, following her recent announcements on audit practice.

Melanie Johnson: I announced on 17 July that I propose to raise the definition of a small company to the current EU maximum, benefiting some 15,000 companies who will no longer have to include a cash flow statement, and can produce simplified profit and loss account and balance sheet. I also propose that small companies should file their accounts with Companies House: the current option to file abbreviated accounts would be abolished.

Eco-design

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to ensure that incentives are in place for the eco-design of products.

Brian Wilson: Both the Department and my colleagues in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are involved in the negotiation and implementation of a number of EC initiatives that are concerned with the eco-design of products. In addition, as part of their promotional effort to stimulate the adoption of waste minimisation and cleaner techniques within business, the Departments jointly sponsor the Envirowise programme to run workshops and publish design guides specifically to promote cleaner design.
	At European level, a Commission Green Paper on the establishment of a framework of Integrated Product Policy (IPP) was published in February last year. This aims to improve the environmental performance of a wide range of products throughout their life cycle.
	The Commission also published the first draft for a directive on the impact on the environment of electrical and electronic equipment, known as the EEE proposals, last year. These proposals aim to harmonise European requirements concerning the design of electrical and electronic products to minimise their overall impact on the environment.
	In addition, the final negotiating stages of a directive on the waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) are currently taking place. This will encourage elements of eco-design by placing recycling costs on producers.

Small Businesses

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had regarding small business growth; and what the outcomes of those meetings were.

Nigel Griffiths: I meet small business representative organisations on a regular basis to discuss small business growth, including the British Chambers of Commerce, the Confederation of British Industry, the Federation of Small Business, the Small Business Council, and the Ethnic Minority Business Forum.
	In addition, I regularly visit all the Business Link Operators and I visit small businesses regularly to discuss the issues affecting their future development and growth.
	The outcomes of these discussions inform SME policy development and the strategy of the Small Business Service, the new Strategy Board of which I am the chair.
	In May I launched a consultation on a Comprehensive Strategy for Business Start-Ups in a drive to boost the enterprise culture and encourage more people to set up their own business. The strategy includes proposals for a new package of measures to support first-time entrepreneurs and growing businessesparticularly those from under-represented groups and disadvantaged parts of the countryand proposals to reduce the barriers facing start-ups. The consultation period will run until the end of July 2002.

Small Businesses

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how the Government defines a small business; and what (a) guidance has been given and (b) legislation is in place regarding the encouragement of small business growth.

Nigel Griffiths: For statistical purposes the DTI uses the following definitions:
	Micro firm: 09 employees
	Small firm: 049 employees (includes micro)
	Medium firm: 50249 employees.
	Section 249 of the Companies Act, 1985 states that a company is 'small' if it satisfies at least two of the following criteria:
	A turnover of not more than 2.8 million
	A balance sheet total of not more than 1.4 million
	Not more than 50 employees.
	A medium-sized company must satisfy at least two of the following criteria:
	A turnover of not more than 11.2 million
	A balance sheet total of not more than 5.6 million
	Not more than 250 employees.
	(a) The Small Business Service provides, through 45 local Business Operators, guidance, advice or access to experts, on just about everything needed to start or grow a business. Services include: business planning, finance, regulation, exporting, innovation, management, quality, employment issues, training and development, design, and E-commerce.
	(b) The Government's aim is to make Britain one of the most competitive environments for business in the worldsince 1997 the Government have cut the corporate tax bills of small companies by around 30 per cent. rewarding entrepreneurial spirit and promoting growth.
	The Government have introduced numerous measures to help small enterprises since 1997, including:
	taking forward the recommendations of the Carter Review of Payroll Services;
	cutting the small companies rate of corporation tax from 23 per cent. to 19 per cent. and introducing a starting rate which we are now cutting from 10 per cent. to zero;
	introducing a 10p starting rate of income tax;
	making 40 per cent. first year capital allowances permanent; and
	introducing measures to ease the impact of VAT on small business.

Small Businesses

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many small businesses have (a) started up and (b) closed down in the past five years by region.

Nigel Griffiths: The number of VAT registrations and de-registrations is the best official measure of business start-ups and closures. VAT data do not capture much of the activity of the very smallest firms that operate under the VAT registration threshold (turnover of 52,000 at 1 April 2000). The latest data available are those for 2000.
	
		Number 
		
			  1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 
		
		
			  Start-ups: VAT registrations 19962000 
			 United Kingdom 168,200 182,570 186,250 178,460 183,325 
			   
			 North East 4,085 4,170 4,215 4,230 4,280 
			 North West 16,475 18,120 18,595 18,085 18,535 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 11,315 11,825 11,820 11,635 11,975 
			 East Midlands 10,845 11,745 11,895 11,255 12,030 
			 West Midlands 13,295 13,635 15,030 14,405 14,485 
			 East of England 16,140 18,270 17,920 17,080 18,420 
			 London 34,055 37,165 39,670 37,335 37,915 
			 South East 27,055 29,955 29,915 28,325 29,185 
			 South West 13,840 15,315 15,545 15,140 15,440 
			   
			 England 147,105 160,200 164,605 157,490 162,265 
			 Wales 6,105 6,240 6,135 5,995 6,190 
			 Scotland 11,275 12,280 11,825 11,410 11,410 
			 Northern Ireland 3,715 3,850 3,685 3,565 3,460 
			   
			  Closures: VAT De-registrations 19962000 
			 United Kingdom 165,065 164,455 155,930 171,970 177,080 
			   
			 North East 4,505 4,390 4,035 4,295 4,220 
			 North West 17,245 17,120 16,115 17,215 17,690 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 12,000 12,250 11,350 12,295 12,755 
			 East Midlands 11,365 11,235 10,695 11,480 11,880 
			 West Midlands 13,670 13,885 13,335 14,200 14,220 
			 East of England 15,600 15,750 15,200 16,515 17,455 
			 London 29,320 28,295 28,375 32,765 35,200 
			 South East 25,680 25,665 22,985 25,900 27,255 
			 South West 14,315 14,400 13,845 15,040 15,475 
			   
			 England 143,705 142,990 135,935 149,705 156,150 
			 Wales 6,750 6,320 6,240 6,740 6,410 
			 Scotland 11,535 11,540 10,930 11,900 11,390 
			 Northern Ireland 3,080 3,605 2,825 3,625 3,130 
		
	
	Source:
	Business Starts and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations
	19802000, Small Business Service

Energy Supply

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the powers Ministers have with regards to securing the supply of energy.

Brian Wilson: Responsibility for energy security under the law is shared by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and Ofgem. My right hon. Friend is responsible for setting the overall regulatory framework for the supply of gas and electricity. A key part of that framework is set out in the Electricity Act 1989 and the Gas Act 1986. These provide that in carrying out their functions the Secretary of State and Ofgem shall have regard to the need to secure that all reasonable demands in Great Britain for electricity and (so far as it is economical to do so) for gas are met.
	Under this legislation, the powers of the Secretary of State and Ofgem relating to security of supply are mainly exercised through their licensing functions. My right hon. Friend has laid down Standard Licence Conditions which apply to all classes of licensees. Power to modify these rests with Ofgem, with reference to the Competition Commission if a company and Ofgem cannot agree. My right hon. Friend has a power to veto agreed modifications. Enforcement of licence conditions is for Ofgem.
	My right hon. Friend has statutory responsibility for regulation of the offshore and onshore oil and gas industries, including the authorisation of pipeline construction and settlement of disputes about access to pipelines. She also has general responsibility for gas regulation and for strategic international issues including European policy, and hence for security of supply issues falling within these areas. There are also provisions under HSE's Gas Safety (Management) Regulations 1996 and under the Electricity Supply Regulations 1988 which provide for maintaining security of supply.
	The Electricity Act 1989 gives my right hon. Friend powers to require particular measures to be taken by licence holders in the event of an electricity supply emergency. The Government may also use the powers contained in the Energy Act 1976 and the more general powers in the Emergency Powers Act 1920, which is the responsibility of the Home Office.

BNFL

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  for what reasons her Department has engaged Andersens as a consultant to advise on the restructuring of BNFL;
	(2)  who the (a) engagement partner and (b) client partner at Andersens are who will be carrying out the work on behalf of her Department into the restructuring of BNFL.

Brian Wilson: The Department has not engaged Andersens. Following a competitive tender, the Department is in the process of appointing Deloitte and Touche as its accountancy adviser on BNFL and the proposed Liabilities Management Authority. Deloitte and Touche has invited partners and staff at Andersens in the UK to join Deloitte and I understand that arrangement is currently being implemented. The Deloitte's team will be led by David Wadsworth, a long-standing partner at Deloitte.

BNFL

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the financial position of BNFL.

Brian Wilson: BNFL announced its results for 200102 on 16 July 2002. The company reported a loss after tax and exceptional items of 2,090 million, caused primarily by exceptional charges of 1.9 billion relating to a review of strategy for historic waste management and 375 million for the early closure of the Magnox nuclear power stations Calder Hall and Chapelcross. Before tax and exceptional items, the company made a profit of 22 million.
	BNFL also announced a net asset deficit of some 1.85 billion. However, the Company has a strong cash position. Further, in November 2001 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced proposals to establish a Liabilities Management Authority (LMA) which will take on financial responsibility for the nuclear legacy liabilities. The Government are committed to pushing ahead with the proposed LMA at the earliest opportunity and published on 4 July 2002 a White Paper Managing the Nuclear Legacy which, among other things, sets out in more detail the plans for the LMA.

Business Ethics Training

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much of the SBS Business Incubation Fund has been allocated; how many applications have been rejected; how many applications are awaiting a decision; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: holding answer 22 July 2002
	The SBS Business Incubation Fund was created in October 2001.
	Applications totalling 4.5 million have been received. The fund's panel of independent experts are evaluating these. Further applications from projects, currently at an early stage, are expected to be made to the fund once they reach their appropriate level of development. To date, three have been rejected.

Auditing and Accounting

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action the Government are taking to strengthen auditing and accounting requirements.

Melanie Johnson: I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's statement to the House earlier today.

Office for Civil Nuclear Security

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer of 17 July 2002, Official Report, column 353W, on OCNS, which other Government agencies are used to train OCNS staff; and for what reason the publication of the first annual report from OCNS was not accompanied by a press release.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 23 July 2002
	OCNS staff are given the training which is considered necessary in order to complete their tasks. This training will vary from task to task and from person to person, therefore the agency giving the training will vary according to the requirement.
	It was thought more appropriate for the publication of the OCNS annual report to be placed in the Library of both Houses and to be made generally available on the DTI website.

European Energy and Transport Forum

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the European Energy and Transport Forum will meet; where it will meet; how often meetings will take place; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 1 July 2002, Official Report, column 132W. The European Energy and Transport Forum is a Commission Committee. It is for the Commission to decide organisational arrangements for meetings.

Council for Excellence in Management and Leadership

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times in the last 12 months members of the SBS have met the Council for Excellence in Management and Leadership.

Nigel Griffiths: holding answer 22 July 2002
	Seven.

Employment Tribunals

Michael Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects the Employment Tribunal System Taskforce to report; and if she will publish the report.

Alan Johnson: The Employment Tribunal System Taskforce have just completed their work. I expect to receive their report shortly. I know that Members of the House and the public are keen to see the outcome of their work, so I hope to publish as soon as practical after receipt of the report; copies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Regional Development Agencies

Michael Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the regional development agencies have prepared annual accounts and reports for 200102; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: The regional development agencies' annual reports and accounts for 200102 have been published today. Copies have been laid before Parliament. These cover the period from 1 April 2001 through to 31 March 2002. The Government welcome the continued progress made by agencies to improving the economic regeneration, skills and competitiveness of the regions.

Company Auditors (Supervisory Bodies)

Michael Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she has received the annual reports for 2001 from the recognised supervisory bodies for company auditors under Part II of the Companies Act 1989; and if she will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: I have received the annual reports for the year 2001 from the five recognised supervisory bodies for company auditors: a combined report from the institutes of chartered accountants in England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland, and one each from the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants and the Association of Authorised Public Accountants. Copies of the reports have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	Schedule 11 of the Companies Act 1989 sets out the requirements which a body must meet to be eligible for recognised supervisory body status. These include requirements to have adequate arrangements for monitoring and enforcing compliance with its rules relating to membership and eligibility (e.g. holding an appropriate qualification, being a fit and proper person, working to technical and ethical standards, maintaining competence), discipline and investigation of complaints. In these reports, the recognised bodies inform the Government about their activities in relation to these arrangements. We shall discuss the reports with the bodies shortly, and will do so in the light of the interim report of the co-ordinating group on audit and accounting issues.
	These arrangements now also fall within the oversight remit of the Review Board. It is currently completing a study of the bodies' discipline and complaints arrangements and will start work shortly on a study of their systems for registration and monitoring of auditors.

Penrose Inquiry

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she expects the Penrose Inquiry to be published in 2002; and if she will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Christchurch (Mr. Chope) on 19 July 2002, Official Report, column 636W.

Directives (Trade Barriers)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of directives on the removal of technical barriers to trade in the sector of colouring matters which may be added to medicinal products is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement.

David Lammy: I have been asked to reply.
	The UK representatives on the European Union Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of directives on the removal of technical barriers to trade in the sector of colouring matters which may be added to medicinal products are the chief executive of the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) in relation to medicines for human use, and the chief executive of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate in relation to veterinary medicines. We have not received notification of any committee meetings planned for the future.
	The committee is a regulatory committee which assists the European Commission in exercising its powers of implementation and facilitates the adoption of draft measures in the field of permitted colours for medicinal products.

EU Committees (Scottish Representation)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee overseeing the conditions governing imports of agricultural products originating in third countries following the accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: I have been asked to reply.
	The ad hoc comitology committee set up to advise the European Commission on measures needed to control agricultural products originating in third countries affected by fallout from the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station has no date set for its next meeting. The United Kingdom is represented on the committee by an official from the Food Standards Agency who consults with all interested parties, including the Scottish Executive, prior to committee meetings. The Scottish Executive has never had a separate representative on the committee.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Ministerial Group on Domestic Violence

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Minister for Women 
	(1)  what is the budget of the Ministerial Group on Domestic Violence;
	(2)  how many times the Ministerial Group on Domestic Violence has met in the last 12 months; and on what dates;
	(3)  how many letters from the public the Ministerial Group on Domestic Violence has received.

John Denham: I have been asked to reply.
	The Ministerial Group itself has not received any letters from the public, but the Home Office has received 20 such letters since 5 February, relating to domestic violence. As chair of the Ministerial Group on Domestic Violence, I have received nine further letters from other members of the group and Members of Parliament. Other members of the Ministerial Group may have received letters specific to their policy areas.
	The Ministerial Group has met three times in the last seven months, on 10 January 202 (its inaugural meeting), 5 February 2002, and 12 June 2002.
	The Ministerial Group does not have a specific budget as it utilises resources currently available within each Department to help tackle domestic violence.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

School Transport

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent on school transport per secondary pupil in each English local education authority in each of the last five years; and how many secondary pupils there were in each local authority.

David Miliband: holding answer 15 July 2002
	The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

School Management

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the statement of the School Standards Minister of 15 July 2002, Official Report, column 67, lines 12, and the statement of the former School Standards Minister of 13 December 2001, Official Report, Standing Committee G, column 157, lines 5961, if subsection (1) (a) of section 10 of the Education Bill allows governing bodies to form a company to manage or operate a school.

David Miliband: holding answer 22 July 2002
	As a matter of law, the conduct of a maintained school must be under the direction of a school's governing body. That duty is re-enacted in clause 20 of the current Education Bill. (References are to HL Bill 51 (Rev) as first printed for the Lords.) This statutory position is referred to in both lines 1 and 2 of column 67 of the Official Report for 15 July 2002 and in lines 5859 of column 157 of the Official Report on Standing Committee G on 13 December 2001.
	It would not therefore be possible for a company or any other body to take over the running of the school, because the governing body cannot contract out the duty to conduct the school.
	Nothing in the Bill means that governing bodies have greater powers to enter into contracts. By virtue of schedule 10 to the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, governing bodies already have the power to enter into contracts, which may include elements of the operational management of the school.
	Clause 10 (1)(a) gives groups of schools the power to form a company to deliver services to other schools. Thus, clause 10(1)(a) means that a governing body may contract with a school company on the same basis as with other bodies. However, the conduct of the school must remain under the direction of the governing body.

Out-of-School Clubs

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what targets Ofsted has set for the inspection and registration after 2003 of out-of-school clubs; and when they will be published;
	(2)  how long on average Ofsted has taken to inspect and register an out-of-school club, broken down by region;
	(3)  how many out-of-school clubs Ofsted estimates had to be inspected and registered before March 2003 for its targets to be met.

David Miliband: These are matters for the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED). The HM Chief Inspector for Schools, David Bell will write to the hon. Gentleman and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.

Crches

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what requirements there are for qualified staff to be in attendance at creche facilities operating for less than two hours a day in public places;
	(2)  whether staff and assistants working in creche facilities open to the general public and operating less than two hours per day are subject to the same checks as those working in creche facilities open to the general public and operating more than two hours per day;
	(3)  how many complaints her Department has received in the last 12 months about the quality of care provided in creche facilities available to the general public operating for less than two hours a day;
	(4)  what information a provider of creche facilities operating for less than two hours a day is required to supply to parents.

Estelle Morris: holding answer 23 July 2002
	Crches operating for two hours or less per day are not regulated in the same way as childcare facilities operating for longer periods. There are no particular requirements for staff to be checked by the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED), for information to be supplied to parents, or for qualified staff. However, people providing such facilities have a general duty of care for the children being looked after, and should therefore ensure that they employ people suitable for the job. Within the last twelve months, the Department for Education and Skills has received only one complaint about the quality of care in crche facilities operating for less than two hours per day. We keep under regular review the provisions of the Children Act relating to the regulation of childcare.

Children

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether, in preparing a response to the UN General Assembly Special Assembly for Children held in May, she will report on the work of other Departments affecting children both in the UK and overseas.

John Denham: At the UN General Assembly Special Session, countries committed themselves to developing or strengthening national policies with the goals agreed in the Plan of Action set out in the final declaration. In the Government's over-arching strategy for children and young people, which will cover all departments and which will be published later this year, we will ensure that the commitments in the Plan of Action are reflected.

Schools (Administrative Staff)

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many administrative staff were working in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in (i) St. Helens Metropolitan borough council area, (ii) Merseyside, (iv) the north-west and (v) England in (A) 1997, (B) 1998, (C) 1999, (D) 2000 and (E) 2001.

David Miliband: holding answer 17 July 2002
	The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Maintained Primary and Secondary Schools: Full-time equivalent(61) of administrative staff(62) 19972001 -- Position in January each year
		
			  Total administrative staff(61),(62) 
			  Primary(63) Secondary(63) 
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 1997 1998 1999 2000 
		
		
			 St Helens LEA 55 57 59 68 67 70 66 65 69 
			 Merseyside(64) 545 543 554 569 607 501 519 529 562 
			 North West(65) 1,828 1,880 1,910 2,033 2,136 1,868 1,920 1,949 2,604 
			 ENGLAND 19,211 19,565 19,985 21,180 22,258 17,592 18,084 18,686 19,424 
		
	
	(61)Includes both full-time and the full-time equivalent of part-time non-teaching staff.
	(62)Includes secretaries and bursars.
	(63)Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(64)For 2000 and 2001 Merseyside is incorporated into North West region so these figures have been derived by a Knowsley, Liverpool, St. Helens, Sefton and Wirral LEAs.
	(65)North West figures for 2000 and 2001 have been alterred to exclude Merseyside Metroplolitan County for consistency with previous years
	Source:
	Annual Schools' Census.

Behaviour Improvement Plans

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which LEAs have behaviour improvement plans funded by central Government; what the cost of each has been; and what criteria were adopted by Government for the selection of those authorities.

Stephen Twigg: The following 34 local education authorities (LEAs) were selected to submit plans to improve behaviour and attendance in particular schools under the Behaviour Improvement Programme strand of the Government's Street Crime initiative:
	
		
			  
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham Hounslow Oldham 
			 Birmingham Islington Reading 
			 Bolton Kensington and Chelsea Rochdale 
			 Bradford Knowsley Salford 
			 Brent Lambeth Sheffield 
			 Bristol Leeds Slough 
			 Camden Lewisham Southwark 
			 Enfield Liverpool Tower Hamlets 
			 Greenwich Manchester Waltham Forest 
			 Hackney Newham Westminster 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham Nottingham Wolverhampton 
			 Haringey   
			 All 34 plans have received initial approval and the LEAs now have access to up to 1.5 million in 200203 and around a further 1.25 million in 200304. Funding beyond 200304 will be determined following further consideration of the outcomes of the Comprehensive Spending Review. The 34 LEAs were selected on the basis of crime figures and truancy data from among the 83 LEAs which fall into the ten police force areas which account for over 80 per cent. of street crime.

Teaching Vacancies

Virginia Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teaching vacancies in Surrey are unfilled; and how many were unfilled 12 months ago.

David Miliband: There were 104 vacancies for full-time teachers in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools in Surrey in January 2001. This is the most recent date for which these data are available.
	There were 39 vacancies for full-time teachers in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools in Surrey in January 2000.

Teachers' Pensions

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the proportion of the rise in Government liabilities resulting from unfunded teacher pension schemes in England and Wales in the last five years owing to (a) wage inflation, (b) longevity, (c) extension of the rights of part-time workers and (d) other factors; and if she will make a statement.

David Miliband: The Teachers' Pension Scheme is subject to regular actuarial reviews by the Government Actuary. A review of the position as at 31 March 2001 is underway and the report is due to be published at the end of the year. Actuarial reviews include full allowance for the effects on the scheme liabilities of such factors as price inflation, salary growth, membership changes and pensioner mortality. Intermediate valuations are produced to provide updated liability figures for the purposes of Resource Accounting, and are generally based on the assumptions adopted for the latest full review.
	Information is not readily available in the form requested. The liabilities of the scheme were calculated to be 76 billion for the actuarial review as at 31 March 1996, and were estimated to be 98 billion for the Resource Accounts as at 31 March 2001. Changes in price inflation, real wage inflation and in the membership are the main factors underlying the higher liabilities. The increase in liabilities caused by the extension of the rights of part-time workers was not significant over the period.

Head Teachers

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of serving head teachers have participated in the leadership and management programme for new head teachers.

David Miliband: 10,243 headteachers have registered since 1995 for the Leadership and Management Programme for New Headteachers (HEADLAMP), which represents 43 per cent. of serving headteachers.

Head Teachers

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of teachers have achieved the National Professional Qualification for Headship.

David Miliband: 6,340 teachers have achieved the National Professional Qualification for Headship since 1997, which represents 1.4 per cent. of all full-time and part-time teachers in nursery, primary and secondary schools in the maintained sector in January 2002 (provisional). In addition, 4,500 teachers are currently working towards the qualification.

Head Teachers

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of serving head teachers have achieved the (a) Leadership Programme for Serving Head Teachers and (b) National Professional Qualification for Headship.

David Miliband: 9,391 serving headteachers have participated in the Leadership and Management Programme for Serving Heads, which represents 39 per cent. of serving headteachers.
	Serving headteachers are not eligible to undertake the National Professional Qualification for Headship. However, since its inception in 1997, 6,340 teachers have achieved the qualification and over 4,500 are currently working towards it.

Education (St Helens)

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children received education (a) in pupil referral units and (b) at home in (i) St Helens, (ii) Merseyside, (iii) the Northwest and (iv) England in each year since 1996.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 23 July 2002
	The information requested is set out in the tables below.
	
		Pupil Referral Units: Number (headcount) of Pupils(66) -- Position at January in each year
		
			  1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 St Helens 0 1 0 0 21 35 
			 Merseyside 283 418 442 428 470 385 
			 North West(excluding Merseyside) 177 247 378 274 360 1,033 
			 England 6,872 7,530 7,740 8,263 8,479 9,289 
		
	
	(66) Excludes pupils who are also registered at a mainstream or special school.
	
		Number of Pupils not in Schools(67) -- Position at January in each year
		
			  1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 St Helens 23 47 48 84 70 81 
			 Merseyside 329 300 305 362   
			 North West 1,521 1,564 1,849 2,100 2,616 2,061 
			 England 10,553 12,295 13,594 14,005 15,670 16,307 
		
	
	(67) Includes pupils not in school, e.g. pupils taught at home, Traveller children, asylum seekers at FE colleges or with voluntary sector providers
	 not applicable (Merseyside is incorporated into North West region).
	We do not require Local Education Authorities (LEAs) to report separately on the numbers of children educated in the home by the LEA and this could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
	We do not require LEAs to report on the numbers of children whose parents choose to home educate them and this figure also could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Education (St Helens)

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many vacant teaching positions there were (a) by subject and (b) as a percentage of all teaching positions in (i) St Helens, (ii) Merseyside, (iii) the North West and (iv) England in (A) 1996, (B) 1997, (C) 1998, (D) 1999, (E) 2000 and (F) 2001.

David Miliband: holding answer 23 July 2002
	The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

Education (St Helens)

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the adult literacy rate was in (a) St Helens, (b) Merseyside, (c) the North West and (d) England in each year since 1996.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 23 July 2002
	The table below shows the estimated level of poor literacy skills in the areas concerned. The data are from a series of surveys undertaken for the Basic Skills Agency in 199697. There are no data available for the subsequent years, although we are now conducting a large survey of literacy, language and numeracy needs in England as part of the Skills for Life strategy to improve adult basic skills. This will provide a more current assessment of literacy need.
	
		
			 Area Percentage of population aged 1660 with poor literacy skills 
		
		
			 St Helens 26 
			 Merseyside 27 
			 North West average 25 
			 England average 24

Education Initiatives

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of pupils in each local education authority took part in each of her Department's initiatives which have not yet been subject to nationwide roll-out.

David Miliband: The following pilot/Pathfinder initiatives were in operation during the school year 200102. These will not necessarily roll-out nationally though, as a result of the Spending Review, Education Maintenance Allowances will be available throughout England from September 2004. Information on numbers of pupils taking part is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			 Pilot/Pathfinder Area 
		
		
			 Diversity Pathfinders Middlesbrough; Hertfordshire; Portsmouth; Cornwall; Newham 
			 To explore various avenues towards developing a truly diverse secondary system by creating the opportunity for LEAs to work with schools to develop their own distinctive ethos and excellence in order to raise standards throughout secondary education.  
			 Excellence in Cities Primary Pilot Birmingham; Bradford; Camden; Coporation of London; Greenwich; hackney; Hammersmith and Fulham; Haringey; Islington; Knowsley; Lambeth; Leeds; Lewisham; Liverpool; Manchester; Newham; Rotherham; Salford; Sheffield; Southwark; Tower Hamlets; Waltham Forest; Wandsworth; Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea 
			 Extending the programme to primary schools in EiC areas.  
			 National Mentoring Pilot Project Birmingham; Oxfordshire; Hackney; Lambeth; Manchester; Nottingham; Brighton; Salford; Trafford; Portsmouth; Plymouth; Bradford; Lancashire; Gloucestershire; Newcastle; South Tyneside; Middlesbrough; Telford and Wrekin 
			 To raise the achievement of secondary school pupils aged between 1218 years in deprived areas, encouraging them to develop and move on to independent learning, and promoting the benefits of entering into higher education to those who may not otherwise consider it.  
			 Learning Mentors Barking and Dagenham; Barnsley; Birmingham; Blackburn; Blackpool; Bradford; Brent; Bristol; Camden; Corporation of London; Doncaster; Ealing; Enfield; Gateshead; Greenwich; Hackney; Halton; Hammersmith and Fulham; Haringey; Hartlepool; Hounslow; Islington; Kensington and Chelsea; Kingston Upon Hull; Knowsley; Lambeth; Leeds Leicester City; Lewisham; Liverpool; Luton; Manchester; Middlesbrough, Newcastle Upon Tyne; Newham; North Tyneside; City of Nottingham; Oldham; Redcar and Cleveland; Rochdale; Rotherham; St Helens; Salford; Sandwell; Sefton; Sheffield; South Tyneside; Solihull; Southwark; Stockton on Tees; Stoke on Trent; Sunderland; Tower Hamlets; Waltham Forest; Wandsworth; Westminster; Wirral; Wolverhampton; Portsmouth; West Cumbria; Kent; Dewsbury and Batley; East Lancashire; Walsall; Croydon; Tameside; Huddersfield; West Lancashire; Coventry 
			 To help pupils remove barriers to learning.  
			 Advanced Skills Teachers (AST) Birmingham; Essex; Gloucestershire; Kent; Leeds; Lincolnshire; Newham; York 
			 Groupworking Schemes  
			 Off-shoot of national AST project to ascertain benefit and good practice in using ASTs in groups rather than individually.  
			 School Partnership Pilots Sheffield; Isles of Scilly; Sandwell; Walsall; Bolton; Lewisham; Birmingham; Swindon; Derby 
			 To develop models of partnership working between schools and with external partners to inform development of policy and tackle some current weak and failing schools where existing support is not securing sufficiently rapid progress.  
			 Pupil Learning Credits Camden; Croydon; Greenwich; Hackney; Hammersmith and Fulham; Haringey; Islington; Kensington and Chelsea; Lambeth; Lewisham; Newham; Southwark; Tower Hamlets; Waltham Forest; Wandsworth; Westminster; Knowsley; Lancashire; Liverpool; Manchester; Salford; Portsmouth; Kent; Birmingham; Walsall; Bradford; Kirklees; Leeds; Rotherham; Sheffield 
			 To provide secondary schools with extra funding to enable them to provide additional learning opportunities for Key Stage 3 pupils whose social circumstances are exceptionally challenging, and then to assess the benefits of this to the pupils and the schools.  
			
			 Peer Mentoring Resource Pack Trial Birmingham; Lancashire; Salford; Westminster 
			 To help schools run programmes where Y10/11 pupils mentor Y7 pupils to help them through the transition into secondary schooling.  
			 Schools Facing Extremely Challenging Circumstances Liverpool; North East Lincolnshire; Sunderland; Hammersmith and Fulham; Birmingham; Kent; Calderdale; Barnet 
			 To find new and innovative ways to raise attainment.  
			 Gifted and Talented 
			 Intensive programme to support the development of gifted and talented pupils. Barking and Dagenham; Barnsley; Birmingham; Blackburn; Blackpool; Bradford; Brent; Bristol; Camden; Corporation of London; Doncaster; Ealing; Enfield; Gateshead; Greenwich; Hackney; Halton; Hammersmith and Fulham; Haringey; Hartlepool; Hounslow; Islington; Kensington and Chelsea; Kingston Upon Hull; Knowsley; Lambeth; Leeds Leicester City; Lewisham; Liverpool; Luton; Manchester; Middlesbrough, Newcastle Upon Tyne; Newham; North Tyneside; City of Nottingham; Oldham; Redcar and Cleveland; Rochdale; Rotherham; St Helens; Salford; Sandwell; Sefton; Sheffield; South Tyneside; Solihull; Southwark; Stockton on Tees; Stoke on Trent; Sunderland; Tower Hamlets; Waltham Forest; Wandsworth; Westminster; Wirral; Wolverhampton; Portsmouth; West Cumbria; Kent; Dewsbury and Batley; East Lancashire; Walsall; Croydon; Tameside; Huddersfield; West Lancashire; Coventry 
			   
			 Zoneparc Pilot Bristol; Lambeth 
			 Playground improvement and management scheme to increase activity levels of young people and tackle social exclusion  
			 Education Maintenance Allowance 
			 To improve participation, retention and attainment in post-compulsory education among 1618 year olds Cornwall; Knowsley; Leeds; Liverpool; Luton; Manchester; Middlesbrough; Northumberland; Southampton; Sheffield; Walsall; Wolverhampton; Nottingham; Oldham; Bolton; Coventry; Doncaster; Tameside; North Tyneside; Wakefield; Birmingham; Gateshead; Leicester; South Tyneside; Stoke on Trent; Wigan; Barking and Dagenham; Brent; Camden; Ealing; Fulham; Greenwich; Hackney; Halton; Hammersmith and Fulham; Waltham Forest; Hartlepool; Haringey; Islington; Kingston upon Hull; Lambeth; Lewisham; Newham; Salford; Sandwell; Southwark; Wandsworth; Tower Hamlets; Bradford; Barnsley; St Helens; Wirral; East Lancashire; Sunderland; Suffolk;; North East Lincolnshire; Worcestershire 
			  Barking and Dagenham; Barnsley; Birmingham; Blackburn; Blackpool; Bradford; Brent; Bristol; Camden; Corporation of London; Doncaster; Ealing; Enfield; Gateshead; Greenwich; Hackney; Halton; Hammersmith and Fulham; Haringey; Hartlepool; Hounslow; Islington; Kensington and Chelsea; Kingston Upon Hull; Knowsley; Lambeth; Leeds Leicester City; Lewisham; Liverpool; Luton; Manchester; Middlesbrough, Newcastle Upon Tyne; Newham; North Tyneside; City of Nottingham; Oldham; Redcar and Cleveland; Rochdale; Rotherham; St Helens; Salford; Sandwell; Sefton; Sheffield; South Tyneside; Solihull; Southwark; Stockton on Tees; Stoke on Trent; Sunderland; Tower Hamlets; Waltham Forest; Wandsworth; Westminster; Wirral; Wolverhampton; Portsmouth; West Cumbria; Kent; Dewsbury and Batley; East Lancashire; Walsall; Croydon; Tameside; Huddersfield; West Lancashire; Coventry

Grammar Schools

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on proposals for new grammar schools as part of her schools specialisation policy.

David Miliband: Grammar schools are schools which were effectively wholly selective at the beginning of the 199798 school year. New grammar schools are not possible under current education legislation, and we have no intention of changing this.
	School specialisation is concerned with a focus on curriculum subjects, not with selection for general academic ability.

Secondary Transfer Places

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action is being taken to assist those local authorities with a shortfall of secondary transfer places for September; and if she will make a statement.

David Miliband: It is for local education authorities to ensure they have sufficient school places to meet demand. Where an authority can demonstrate it has a shortfall of places it may apply to the Department for capital funding to create additional provision. LEAs with a projected shortfall of places submitted their capital bids to fund an increase in provision this year in September 2001, and allocations were announced in December 2001.

Individual Learning Accounts

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the cost of the closure of (a) the Individual Learning Account programme, (b) the investigation by the ILA Compliance Unit and (c) referrals of ILA learning providers to the police.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 18 July 2002
	The estimated cost to the Department to end June 2002 of: (a) closure of the Individual Learning Account (ILA) programme is 1,710,000; (b) investigation by the Department's ILA Compliance Unit is 570,000; and (c) referrals by the Department's Special Investigation Unit of ILA learning providers to the police is 190,000.

Foreign Languages

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made as to the number of schools that plan to make the teaching of a foreign language optional at Key Stage 4.

Stephen Twigg: Modern Foreign Languages remain a compulsory National Curriculum subject at key stage 4 and we expect schools to observe this.
	The Green Paper 1419: extending opportunities, raising standards proposes that the existing arrangements under which all young people must study a modern foreign language at key stage 4, unless their schools have used the disapplication procedures, is too constraining. The Green Paper therefore proposes that the statutory obligation for young people at Key Stage 4 to study a language, be replaced by a new statutory entitlement that would require schools to make the subject available to any young person wishing to study it.
	Consultation only closed on 31 May 2002 and we are reflecting carefully on the views expressed during consultation before reaching our decision. We have indicated in the Green Paper that any curriculum changes would be subject to further consultation before their introduction.
	We have made no estimates at this stage of the effect of our proposals on the study of modern foreign languages at key stage 4.

Somerset College for Arts and Technology

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what levels of funding for further education will be given to Somerset College for Arts and Technology in (a) 200203, (b) 200304 and (c) 200405.

Ivan Lewis: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. I have therefore asked John Harwood, the Council's Chief Executive, to write to the hon. Gentleman with the information requested and to place a copy of his reply in the Library.

Learn Direct Plus

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people have enrolled on Learn Direct Plus in the constituency of Taunton since it began; how many courses are provided in Taunton constituency; how much funding has been provided for these courses; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: 501 learners have enrolled on a learndirect course in the constituency of Taunton since the initiative was rolled out nationally in October 2000. Learners in Taunton can choose from the current portfolio of 692 learndirect courses, which can be accessed at a learndirect centre or at home, at work or other locations. We are unable to provide information on the amount of funding provided for courses in the Taunton constituency.

Further Education Colleges

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent advice she has issued to further education colleges in connection with the education of young people aged between 14 and 16 years, with particular reference to legal issues including enrolment and child protection.

Stephen Twigg: The Department, in conjunction with the Learning and Skills Council, has issued detailed draft guidance on a range of legal issues in relation to the new Increased Flexibility for 1416 Year Olds programme, which will be delivered largely by Further Education Colleges. This guidance covers child protection, health and safety, supervision and a range of other matters. Local LSCs were encouraged to share the guidance with FECs on the programme. A published version is expected in the Autumn.

Per Capita Funding

Virginia Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the per capita central Government funding was for (a) Surrey and (b) Durham.

David Miliband: The following table shows for 200203 the overall level of recurrent funding per capita for pupils in Surrey and Durham. Other per capita funding for the other sectors of education are not collected by the Department.
	
		
			   
		
		
			 Durham 3,390 
			 Surrey 3,340 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	2. Funding consists of Education Standard Spending plus all schools-related revenue grants in DfES' departmental expenditure limit which are relevant to pupils aged 4 to 19.
	3. Calculations are based on full-time equivalent pupils aged 4 to 19 in maintained schools.
	4. The figures are in 200102 prices based on the GDP deflators published by the Treasury on 28 June.

Leadership Incentive Grant

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on what criteria the recipients of leadership incentive grant will be chosen; and why the grant is only available to secondary schools.

David Miliband: holding answer 23 July 2002
	Detailed criteria for the leadership incentive grant will be set out later in the year. The grant will be available to secondary schools in recognition of the particular challenges in their sector.

Schools Funding

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what extra funding, in addition to the education standard spending assessment, has been supplied to (a) schools and (b) local authorities in England as a result of successful bids since 1999 in each local authority.

David Miliband: holding answer 18 July 2002
	The information requested is not held centrally in the Department and could therefore only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	Most additional education funding is allocated and paid to local education authorities through the Standards Fund and Special Grant. Since April 2001, Standards Fund grants have been distributed by formula not on the basis of bids. The Government expects LEAs to devolve Standards Fund grants to schools by a fair formula, in which case schools should not have to apply for grant. All Special Grants are allocated to LEAs via specified formula by which they must pass on grant on to their schools.

Schools Funding

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what contribution her Department made to determining the indices of deprivation to be used to allocate funds within the proposed new formula for the SSA for education.

David Miliband: The Department for Education and Skills commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to carry out a research project into additional educational needs or deprivation. The project was steered through the Education Funding Strategy Group, the Department's group of external stakeholders. The project used a survey to determine the cost and incidence of additional educational needs in 42 local education authorities, covering all types of LEA. Data from the survey has been used to inform the choice of indicators and the weights assigned to them in the formulae which underlie the exemplifications issued by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on 8 July. A copy of the report on the PwC project will be placed in the library of the House when it has been finalised.

Schools Funding

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what assessment she made of alternatives to the former DTLR's Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000 in determining funding for different levels of deprivation in the schools' formula budget; and for what reason the Index was not used;
	(2)  what assessment she made of alternatives to the former DTLR's Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000 in determining funding for different levels of deprivation in the schools' formula budget; and for what reason the IMD was not used.

David Miliband: The Department has considered deprivation indicators, including the Index of Multiple Deprivation, on a number of occasions over the past 15 months in its work with the Education Funding Strategy Group on the new education funding formula. In the education options in the consultation paper issued on 8 July, the overall Index of Multiple Deprivation has not been used: it is not suitable as a basis for reflecting deprivation in the distribution of funding for additional education needs, since it incorporates many measures of deprivation not relevant to the educational needs of children. The options set out in the 8 July consultation document include at LEA level a number of the indicators that are part of the IMD: children in families on income support; low birth weight; and English as an Additional Language.

Schools Funding

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the Department for Education and Skills has formulated a sum for basic allocation within the new SSA formula for education for (a) under fives, (b) primary schools and (c) secondary schools, as envisaged in the consultation paper on reforming the Formula Grant System issued on 8 July.

David Miliband: The sum to be allocated for basic funding within the new SSA formula will depend on decisions taken following consultation on the structure of the formula, and on the overall sums available within education standard spending following the Spending Review 2002.

Special Schools

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether money allocated to her Department as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review will be used to increase funding and resources for special schools.

David Miliband: holding answer 23 July 2002
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will announce details of the full allocations between and within the various sectors of education later in the year. Individual special schools will continue to be funded by local authorities, but they will all benefit from an increase next year in direct funding through School Standards Grant and devolved formula capital.

Specialist Schools

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of (a) specialist schools and (b) applicants for that status offer music as their specialist subject.

David Miliband: There are no specialist schools or applicants for specialist designation offering music as their specialism. However, 66 of the 685 specialist schools in operation as of September 2001 are Arts Colleges specialising in the performing arts, including music, dance and drama.

Training and Enterprise Councils

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list (a) the total sums made available to training and enterprise councils and (b) the sums spent by TECs on (i) work-based training for young people, (ii) work-based training for adults and (iii) other Government-funded programmes, in each year from 199596 to 200001.

Ivan Lewis: The following table gives details of sums made available to TECs and actual spend between the years 199697 and 200001. Information for earlier years is not available.
	
		Training and Enterprise Council Budget and Spend 19962001 for PQ71169
		
			  (000s) Spend Sums made available (Budget) 
		
		
			 200001 
			 Work Based Training Young People 810,592 859,237 
			 Work Based Training Adults 260,448 279,314 
			 Other Programmes 198,900 183,407 
			 Total 1,269,940 1,321,958 
			 19992000   
			 Work Based Training Young People 770,876 832,376 
			 Work Based Training Adults 233,360 298,622 
			 Other Programmes 215,929 222,078 
			 Total 1,220,165 1,353,076 
			 199899   
			 Work Based Training Young People 696,499 727,908 
			 Work Based Training Adults 130,337 169,891 
			 Other Programmes 206,675 218,993 
			 Total 1,033,511 1,116,792 
			 199798   
			 Work Based Training Young People 729,834 730,530 
			 Work Based Training Adults 213,806 223,577 
			 Other Programmes 201,279 213,470 
			 Total 1,144,919 1,167,577 
			 199697   
			 Work Based Training Young People 736,807 750,165 
			 Work Based Training Adults 265,875 271,046 
			 Other Programmes 153,537 154,882 
			 Total 1,156,219 1,176,093

Training and Enterprise Councils

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list in respect of each training and enterprise council the number of staff (a) employed at the end of 19992000, (b) transferred to the Learning and Skills Council, (c) transferred to the Small Business Service, (d) transferred to Business Links, (e) transferred to other organisations and (f) made redundant by the TEC prior to 31 March 2001.

Ivan Lewis: Please following table shows the number of staff employed by the Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs) for the period 19992000. These figures were taken from the TEC audited Statutory Accounts. As TECs were private limited companies engaged in a wide range of activities the Department was not in a position to monitor the actual destination of each individual employed by them.
	However the Department can confirm that of the staff in post at March 25 2001, 3750 transferred with TUPE rights of employment to the LSC and just over 320 to the Employment service. A further 520 staff with transfer rights took voluntary severance or were made redundant for technical reasons.
	Information relating to the numbers of staff transferring to other organisations or otherwise being made redundant is not available.
	
		Staffing -- Statutory Accounts 19992000
		
			 TECS Staff numbers 
		
		
			 Hampshire 195 
			 Wight 85 
			 Kent 237 
			 Milton Keynes 127 
			 Heart of England 105 
			 Surrey 71 
			 Sussex 159 
			 Thames Valley 159 
			 SOUTH EAST TOTAL 1,138 
			 AZTEC 87 
			 FOCUS 185 
			 LeTEC 189 
			 N London 156 
			 NW London 102 
			 SOLOTEC 177 
			 W London 160 
			 LONDON TOTAL 1,056 
			 WESTEC 116 
			 Prosper 307 
			 Dorset 103 
			 Gloucester 132 
			 Somerset 138 
			 Wiltshire 60 
			 SOUTH WEST TOTAL 856 
			 Birmingham 179 
			 Cov/War 239 
			 Dudley 97 
			 HAWTEC 222 
			 Sandwell 98 
			 Shropshire 115 
			 Staffordshire 152 
			 Walsall 81 
			 Wolverhampton 92 
			 WEST MIDS TOTAL 1,275 
			 Greater Nottingham 107 
			 Leicester 114 
			 Lincoln 183 
			 Northamptonshire 95 
			 North Derbyshire 79 
			 North Nottingham 117 
			 South Derbyshire 194 
			 EAST MIDS TOTAL 889 
			 Bedford 155 
			 Cambs TEC 78 
			 Essex 130 
			 Greater Peterborough 120 
			 Hertfordshire 219 
			 Nor/Wav 112 
			 Suffolk 70 
			 EASTERN TOTAL 884 
			 Barnsley/Doncaster 128 
			 Bradford 98 
			 Cardles/Kirkles 162 
			 Humberside 200 
			 Leeds 129 
			 North Yorkshire 124 
			 Rotherham 128 
			 Sheffield 160 
			 Wakefield 68 
			 Y and H TOTAL 1,197 
			 Bolton/Bury 157 
			 Manchester 500 
			 Wigan 151 
			
			 Oldham 99 
			 Rochdale 75 
			 S and E Cheshire 190 
			 Stockport 134 
			 Cumbria 213 
			 ELTEC 130 
			 LAWTEC 128 
			 N and Mid Cheshire 93 
			 CEWTEC 205 
			 Mersey 309 
			 St Helens 90 
			 NORTH WEST TOTAL 2,474 
			 C Durham 114 
			 Northumberland 197 
			 Tees Valley 154 
			 Tyneside 221 
			 Sunderland 147 
			 NORTH EAST TOTAL 833 
			 GRAND TOTAL 10,602

Training and Enterprise Councils

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the aggregate amounts for each year from 199596 to 200001 to which her Department gave consent to transfer by training and enterprise councils between budget heads, showing for each budget head the total amount transferred out and the heads to which it was transferred.

Ivan Lewis: This information is not available. Training and enterprise councils obtained approval from Government Offices to transfer between budget heads on an individual TEC basis. This information was not collated centrally.

Training and Enterprise Councils

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance was given by her Department to training and enterprise councils on the virement of funds between the budgets allocated for work-based training for young people and adults and those for central TEC administration, for each of the years 199596 to 200001.

Ivan Lewis: The guidance relating to the virement of funds between budgets allocated for work-based training for young people and adults was detailed and complex but in essence prior to 19992000 TECs were allowed to vire up to 10 per cent. of their surpluses from one budget (funding block) to another subject to them meeting certain minimum performance targets.
	This guidance was revised in the 19992000 TEC Licence to formally restrict the levels of surpluses that could be generated and switched from one funding block to another to 7 per cent. in total.

Training and Enterprise Councils

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list in respect of each training and enterprise council (a) her estimate of the aggregate of training and enterprise council surpluses attributable to public funds, (b) the amount paid over to public funds to date in respect of those surpluses, and (c) the action her Department is taking to recover outstanding amounts.

Ivan Lewis: We are not yet able to give a final account of the individual or aggregate amounts of Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs) surpluses attributable to public funds and we will not be able to do so until the Liquidators appointed to wind up the TEC companies (59 of the 72 TECs) have completed their work. In the case of the remaining TECs who are to continue trading, we will not be able to give the figures until we have finally resolved the amount of attributable reserves due back to us.
	However the Department believes that by March 2003 they will have received back from the Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs) approximately 250 million worth of reserves. This amount includes 127 million in respect of Individual Learning Accounts (ILAs), 45 million in legacy funds for the Learning and Skills Council, 40 million in fixed assets transferred to a range of successor bodies or for use in the local community and 38 million for the National Transition Budget which is used to meet specific costs incurred in setting up the LSC, e.g., new IT system.
	To date we have received 100 million for ILAs, 24 million for LSC legacy funds and 16m towards the National Transition Budget.
	The return of funds has taken longer than initially expected due to the variety and complexity of issues which have had to be resolved, prior to TECs being able to appoint a liquidator or agree a clean break with the Department where the TEC have decided to continue. The Department are currently working closely with the relevant TECs and liquidators to ensure that outstanding issues are resolved and funds released as a matter of urgency. We have on occasions threatened the appointment of an administrative receiver where we have failed to secure the level of co-operation needed.
	In return for releasing funds the Department is offering TEC Boards and or liquidators financial guarantees in the form of indemnities that ensure the funds will be repaid if they need them to meet genuine contractual commitments. In our experience all liquidators have been reluctant to release reserves until they have completed the wind-up, which in most cases is proving a complex and time-consuming process that can take over a year from appointment.

Training and Enterprise Councils

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  if she will list in respect of each training and enterprise council for 200001 the proportion of total expenditure on Government-funded programmes represented by central administration costs; and what assessment she has made of whether the sums spent on central administration represented value for public money;
	(2)  if she will list (a) the total sums made available by her Department or its predecessors to training and enterprise councils for their central administration costs and (b) the amounts actually spent by TECs on central administration for each year from 199596 to 200001.

Ivan Lewis: Information on central administration costs is not available. Training and enterprise councils were not provided with specific funds for their central administration costs. They received payments for programme and strategic budgets deemed to include an unspecified contribution towards administration costs. The amounts spent by TECs on administration and its disclosure were a matter for individual TECs and varied between them. Some TECs showed no administration costs within their statutory accounts under this heading, while most excluded the costs of staff involved in the direct delivery of their programmes. However, all TECs had to show staffing costs as a note within their accounts.
	While this understates administration costs, as it does not cover expenditure on premises, information technology and other support systems, it is the best proxy for the information sought. I have therefore provided below figures for each of the financial years from 199596 to 200001 showing spend on staffing costs of each of the former Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs) in England as stated in their consolidated annual statutory audited accounts for the full range of activity TECs undertook.
	Any direct comparison of staff costs between TECs is misleading, both because there is no statutory definition of staff costs and also because the range of training and enterprise activities differed between TECs.
	
		TEC/CCTE Administration Costs
		
			  199596 199697 199798 199899 19992000 200001 
			  Staff costs Staff costs Staff costs Staff costs Staff costs Staff costs 
			 TECS by Region   
		
		
			 NORTH EAST 
			 County Durham 2,311,019 2,381,375 2,418,663 2,445,110 2,264,783 2,190,271 
			 Northumberland 2,883,378 2,902,466 3,095,325 3,242,676 3,470,126 3,333,138 
			 Teesside 2,474,000 2,546,000 2,706,000 3,175,000 3,804,000 3,651,000 
			 Tyneside 0 4,356,000 4,887,000 5,373,000 5,191,000 5,087,000 
			 Sunderland 0 2,171,496 2,530,218 2,970,942 3,090,144 3,454,791 
			 TOTAL 7,668,397 14,357,337 15,637,206 17,206,728 17,820,053 17,716,200 
			 NORTH WEST   
			 Bolton/Bury 0 2,263,878 2,745,104 3,255,303 3,542,121 3,837,185 
			 Manchester 1,856,463 6,177,225 8,495,725 11,080,599 12,635,740 13,101,439 
			 Wigan 1,387,932 1,758,968 2,963,066 2,872,720 3,124,399 2,954,404 
			 Oldham 0 0 1,811,362 2,146,895 2,288,594 2,283,321 
			 Rochdale 0 0 1,193,879 1,499,157 1,675,210 1,970,153 
			 SECTEC 0 3,891,142 4,072,153 4,537,011 4,068,952 4,313,025 
			 Stockport 0 2,049,794 2,284,839 2,919,825 3,642,684 4,463,939 
			 Cumbria 0 0 4,148,320 4,348,398 4,167,719 2,706,589 
			 ELTEC 0 2,569,201 2,712,421 2,748,113 2,844,807 3,264,345 
			 LAWTEC 0 3,091,784 3,312,162 3,934,181 3,395,214 3,984,551 
			 NORMID 0 1,821,911 1,959,869 2,030,310 2,276,603 2,195,353 
			 CEWTEC 0 2,174,555 3,718,651 4,096,319 4,441,424 4,368,431 
			 Merseyside 3,634,498 4,694,248 5,003,540 5,981,867 6,924,000 7,048,000 
			 St Helens 1,150,150 1,537,204 1,610,316 1,879,467 1,990,971 1,985,784 
			 TOTAL 8,029,043 32,029,910 46,031,407 53,330,165 57,018,438 58,476,519 
			 Y and H  
			 Barnsley/Doncaster 2,143,000 2,197,000 2,445,000 2,974,000 3,328,000 5,369,000 
			 Bradford 1,789,517 2,059,238 2,102,648 2,272,563 2,267,865 2,253,228 
			 Calderdale/Kirklees 1,715,654 2,483,786 3,303,476 3,654,117 3,863,677 3,872,012 
			 Humberside 2,958,170 3,260,066 3,641,593 4,384,166 5,941,686 5,602,448 
			 Leeds 1,914,944 2,298,615 2,771,812 3,049,722 3,263,066 3,911,480 
			 North Yorks 0 1,831,000 2,009,000 2,418,000 2,871,000 2,840,000 
			 Rotherham 0 2,117,437 2,479,131 2,842,753 3,034,383 3,187,066 
			 Sheffield 0 2,670,000 3,160,000 4,215,000 3,704,000 3,950,000 
			 Wakefield 0 1,302,102 1,759,642 1,456,005 1,476,719 1,883,145 
			 TOTAL 10,521,285 20,219,244 23,672,302 27,266,326 29,750,396 32,868,379 
			 EASTERN  
			 Bedfordshire 1,347,352 1,466,866 2,074,747 2,984,815 3,749,095 3,613,427 
			 Cambridgeshire 913,069 913,733 1,009,261 1,632,060 2,231,354 2,313,959 
			 Essex 2,317,688 2,528,000 2,619,000 2,832,000 4,154,000 3,764,000 
			 Gtr Peterborough 0 1,771,605 2,253,241 2,830,365 2,881,068 2,823,756 
			 Hertfordshire 0 3,118,000 3,266,000 4,875,000 5,744,000 6,035,000 
			 Norfolk and Waveney 2,212,000 2,576,000 2,676,000 2,714,000 3,106,000 3,352,000 
			 Suffolk 1,147,572 1,225,160 1,415,769 1,488,925 2,076,086 1,306,817 
			 TOTAL 7,937,681 13,599,364 15,314,018 19,357,165 23,941,603 23,208,959 
			 EAST MIDS  
			 Gtr Nottingham 1,196,000 1,243,000 1,442,000 1,738,000 2,313,000 3,011,000 
			 Leicester 1,747,112 1,937,746 2,053,777 2,190,371 2,834,946 3,036,332 
			 Lincolnshire 0 3,109,697 3,681,204 4,067,859 3,945,748 4,403,380 
			 Northamptonshire 0 1,654,135 1,825,258 2,228,847 2,628,728 2,906,319 
			 North Derbyshire 1,576,138 1,713,066 1,886,098 1,827,427 1,788,715 1,761,888 
			 North  
			 Nottinghamshire 0 2,015,070 2,298,889 2,525,876 2,969,381 3,179,244 
			 South Derbyshire 0 0 3,329,000 3,663,000 3,911,000 4,521,000 
			 TOTAL 4,519,250 11,672,714 16,516,226 18,241,380 20,391,518 22,819,163 
			
			 WEST MIDS  
			 Birmingham 2,481,000 3,067,000 3,306,000 4,115,000 4,911,000 4,915,000 
			 CENTEC 0 1,069,644 1,177,224 0 0 0 
			 Cov/Warwick 0 3,821,050 4,453,813 4,725,901 5,061,723 5,355,204 
			 Dudley 919,800 1,930,312 1,765,958 1,838,992 2,402,219 2,100,788 
			 HAWTEC 0 264,995 3,169,812 3,991,952 5,258,626 4,829,276 
			 Sandwell 0 1,519,404 2,077,656 2,406,903 2,587,877 2,267,000 
			 Shropshire 1,108,286 1,714,043 1,897,373 2,000,996 2,055,106 1,663,543 
			 Staffordshire 2,123,000 2,412,000 2,461,000 2,682,000 3,459,000 3,609,000 
			 Walsall 1,152,790 1,322,744 1,580,134 1,727,060 2,197,035 2,027,310 
			 Wolverhampton 417,000 1,700,000 2,022,000 2,203,000 2,156,000 2,516,000 
			 TOTAL 8,201,876 18,821,192 23,910,970 25,691,804 30,088,586 29,283,121 
			 SOUTH WEST  
			 WESTEC 2,094,000 2,328,000 2,425,000 2,017,000 2,342,000 2,617,000 
			 Prosper 4,126,000 4,886,000 5,559,000 6,296,000 8,282,000 8,283,000 
			 Dorset 0 1,359,210 1,518,023 1,939,118 2,198,014 2,672,488 
			 Gloucester 1,385,007 1,646,505 1,939,644 2,879,008 3,172,585 3,757,699 
			 Somerset 1,016,565 1,363,417 1,618,554 2,648,489 2,813,010 1,839,239 
			 Wiltshire 1,285,468 1,486,814 1,492,318 1,501,086 1,571,918 1,899,769 
			 TOTAL 9,907,040 13,069,946 14,552,539 17,280,701 20,379,527 21,069,195 
			 LONDON  
			 Aztec 1,401,327 1,486,758 1,609,045 2,002,548 2,714,681 2,429,414 
			 Centec 2,144,932 2,646,805
			 Cilntec 1,653,706 0
			 FOCUS 0 0 5,371,000 6,259,000 6,368,000 8,410,000 
			 LETEC 2,463,241 3,640,819 4,521,474 4,898,407 5,617,403 5,890,489 
			 North London 2,012,587 2,451,110 2,991,331 3,750,158 4,408,581 3,629,736 
			 North West London 666,888 1,194,798 1,512,188 1,967,655 2,726,005 3,568,732 
			 SOLOTEC 2,859,000 3,555,000 4,174,000 5,492,000 4,851,000 5,385,000 
			 West London 0 3,548,546 5,684,669 5,583,113 5,244,201 5,556,025 
			 TOTAL 13,201,681 18,523,836 25,863,707 29,952,881 31,929,871 34,869,396 
			 SOUTH EAST  
			 Hampshire 0 2,613,000 3,474,000 4,399,000 4,867,000 5,492,000 
			 Isle of Wight 582,378 618,585 733,424 1,241,925 1,582,489 1,575,765 
			 Kent 1,999,858 2,832,777 3,624,774 4,138,710 6,315,951 6,255,099 
			 Milton Keynes 0 2,760,094 2,940,610 3,022,377 3,302,090 2,810,683 
			 Heart of England 1,616,454 1,855,421 2,146,037 2,354,176 2,483,181 2,747,806 
			 Surrey 1,606,187 1,515,129 1,827,970 2,037,138 2,259,269 2,331,546 
			 Sussex 2,534,000 3,246,000 3,619,000 3,952,000 4,229,000 5,018,000 
			 Thames Valley 0 3,656,480 3,757,432 4,037,146 4,432,670 4,781,825 
			 TOTAL 8,338,877 19,097,486 22,123,247 25,182,472 29,471,650 31,012,724 
			 GRAND TOTAL 78,325,130 161,391,029 203,621,622 233,509,622 260,791,642 271,323,656

EU Committees (Scottish Representation)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when (a) the EU Socrates Committee, (b) the Erasmus and (c) the Comenius subcommittees are next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of them; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The EU Socrates Committee and sub-committees are scheduled to meet next as follows: Socrates Committee 78 November 2002; Higher Education sub-committee 2324 October 2002; Schools sub-committee 4 November 2002. The UK is represented on the committees by officials from the Joint International Unit of the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department of Education and Skills, but members of the Scottish Executive and the representatives of the other Devolved Administrations are also Alternate Members of the Socrates Committee, in rotation. The Scottish Executive are consulted about the content of the meetings in advance, and make their views known, in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations. Representatives of the Scottish Executive, and of the other Devolved Administrations, are members of the Socrates Network Committee which oversees the administration and implementation of the programme in the UK.

EU Committees (Scottish Representation)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when the EU Tempus Committee is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The next meeting of the EU TEMPUS Committee is provisionally set for 13 December 2002. The UK has two seats on the Committee and is represented by officials from the Department for Education and Skills and from the Joint International Unit of the Department for Education and Skills and the Department for Work and Pensions. Scottish Executive officials, as with officials from the other Devolved Administrations, are consulted and make their views known, in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations. We understand the Executive is content with this arrangement.

EU Committees (Scottish Representation)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when the EU Advisory Committee on vocational training is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The next meeting of the EU Advisory Committee on vocational training (ACVT) is due to take place on 9 and 10 December 2002. Members of the Scottish Executive have not been and are not members of the committee. The ACVT was established by Council Decision No. 63/266/eec dated 2 April 1963 which laid down general principles for implementing a common vocational training policy across the EU. Its purpose is to offer advice and submit opinions to the European Commission on vocational training policy which the Commission is obliged to take account of. Membership of the committee comprises Government officials and representatives from employers' organisations and trades unions. Member States are represented by one person from each group making a total of three per delegation. The representative of Government for the UK is an official from the Joint International Unit of the Department of Work and Pensions and the Department for Education and Skills, who routinely consults policy colleagues in the Scottish Executive, Northern Ireland Executive and the National Assembly for Wales on issues to be discussed by the Committee. These arrangements are in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations.

Anglo-Irish Ministerial Meetings

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when and where Ministers in her Department have held meetings with Ministers and officials of the Irish Government since 1 June 2000; which Ministers were involved in each meeting; which Irish Government departments were involved in each meeting; and which Ministers and officials from the Irish Government attended each meeting.

Stephen Twigg: I refer the hon. Member to my answer on 2 July 2002, Official Report, column 243W.

Politics (Young People)

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the outcome was of the survey conducted by the Government's children's and young people's unit regarding young people's involvement in the political process; and if she will make a statement.

John Denham: The YVote?/YNot? project has produced recommendations and advice that would help to re-engage young people in democracy and voting. These are directed by the young people at three main groups: politicians; Government and the Electoral Commission; and the media. The Children and Young People's Unit will be working with the Electoral Commission and a wide range of young people's organisations to extend the debate on these findings.
	We also plan to make the materials from the project available to teachers, youth workers and organisations working directly with young people. We shall be working with the All Party Group on Youth Affairs to explore how Honourable Members can be helped to improve their communication with young people. The report also identified the importance of information about the political process and this will be a key feature of citizenship education, which will be part of the National Curriculum for secondary schools from August 2002.

Deprived Communities

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what additional support is provided to schools in deprived communities; and if she will make a statement.

David Miliband: Nationally, about 20 per cent. of Education Standard Spending is based on additional educational need (AEN). The additional support provided to a particular school with a high number of pupils from deprived backgrounds will depend on decisions made at local level through the Fair Funding formula operated by its local education authority (LEA).
	Around 25 per cent. of the Standards Fund, or 800 million of grant in 200203, is allocated to LEAs using deprivation factors, normally the proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals. All schools will receive a devolved Standards Fund budget, based on a distribution agreed with their LEA, including any factors for deprivation.
	The Standards Fund includes 255 million of targeted support in 200203 for deprived communities through grants for Excellence in Cities and Excellence Clusters. The Government is also providing 64 million to Education Action Zones, based in deprived areas, to run programmes to achieve pre-agreed targets and objectives in zone schools.

Public Inquiries

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her policy is on using 0870 telephone numbers for inquiries by the public to the Department and its agencies.

Stephen Twigg: The Department for Education and Skills and its Agencies use a variety of different call rates. We employ the use of national rate, Lo-call and free phone numbers according to our business need. We endeavour to ensure that the cost of calls is appropriate to target users and that all people calling these numbers are charged equally.

Statutory Instruments

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many statutory instruments have been (a) introduced, (b) removed and (c) amended by her Department since 1 January; and what the (i) cost and (ii) saving has been in each case.

Stephen Twigg: The Department has introduced 47 statutory instruments since 1 January 2002, 31 instruments have been revoked and 16 amending instruments have been made in the same period. Information about the cost and saving of statutory instruments to public funds is not held centrally and would cost a disproportionate amount to establish. Similarly the cost and saving to businesses and individuals is not held centrally and is not available.

Statistics

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the statistics that are collected by her Department by English parliamentary constituency; and if she will make a statement.

David Miliband: holding answer 8 July 2002
	The Department does not collect any statistics by English parliamentary constituency as such. Data to compile statistics are collected either from individual education or training institutions, or from local administrative bodies such as Local Education Authorities. In the former case statistics can generally be derived on a parliamentary constituency basis by aggregating data from the relevant education or training institutions. This is not carried out routinely, but is done when requested (for example in a Parliamentary Question), subject to considerations of proportionate cost.
	I understand that the honourable Member has also received a letter from the National Statistician on this matter.

Parliamentary Answers

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  for how long she retains documents referred to in parliamentary answers on his Department's website;
	(2)  whether it is her policy to ensure that documents referred to in parliamentary answers are available via her Department's website.

Estelle Morris: My Department aims to be as helpful as possible in responding to hon. Members' Questions. Where it is helpful to refer hon. Members to other documents as part of the substantive reply, this may be done by making hard copies of documents available in the Libraries of the House, or by reference to material available on the Department's website.
	Minimum requirements for the type of document which should be published on Government websites are set out in guidance issued by the Office of the E-envoy, Guidelines for UK Government Websites (Illustrated Handbook for web management teams section 2.2 What content should be on your website? and section 2.3 Cross-government requirements. In addition to setting out guidelines on documents for inclusion, the guidance also explicitly requires Departments to ensure that the content of the site as a whole is up to date and current, and where it is necessary to update content of individual documents, to show the latest date of amendment clearly on the document concerned. Section 1.2.7 deals with the issue of Records management and the OeE currently has a consultation paper on Archiving websites. The purpose of this draft annex to the illustrated handbook is to provide government website managers with a framework towards developing within their website management policy suitable procedures and systems to assist in the management, appraisal and preservation of electronic records. A copy of this draft is available online at http://www.e-envoy.gov.uk/webguidelines.htm
	A copy of the Guidelines for UK government websites is available at http://www.e-envoy.gov.uk/ webguidelines.htm

Broadband Internet Access

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of schools have broadband Internet access in (a) Tamworth, (b) Staffordshire and (c) England.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 22 July 2002
	The information is not available in the form requested.
	In April 2001, 97 per cent. of maintained primary, secondary and special schools in England were connected to the internet. An estimated 4 per cent. of these had access through a broadband connection.
	Information for England is derived from a sample of schools, which is designed for National figures.
	Information for England 2001 was published in Statistical Bulletin 0901 Survey of Information and Communications Technology in Schools 2001, which is available on my Department's web-site www.dfes.gov.uk/statistics and from the Library. Information for England 2002 will be published in a Statistical First Release later this year.

Education SSA

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which local education authorities are in the lowest decile measured by their percentage change in education SSA since 1997; and what the change was in each case.

David Miliband: The following table shows the fifteen authorities which have had the lowest percentage increase in education SSA between 199798 and 200203. The table does not include the new unitary authorities which have been created since 1997.
	
		
			 Local Education Authority Percentage increase since 199798 
		
		
			  % 
			 City of London 19.41  
			 Middlesbrough 22.63  
			 Isles of Scilly 24.28  
			 Leicester 24.58  
			 Sunderland 25.66  
			 Liverpool 25.66  
			 Knowsley 25.86  
			 Wandsworth 25.88  
			 Redcar and Cleveland 26.25  
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 27.12  
			 Gateshead 27.47  
			 City of Kingston-upon-Hull 27.54  
			 Salford 27.84  
			 Manchester 28.05  
			 Bradford 28.2

Tameside College

Andrew Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the inquiry into the management of Tameside College has been completed; whether all those who complained were interviewed by the inquiry team; and how many claims for unfair dismissal by the college (a) are outstanding and (b) have been settled.

Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills has received a formal complaint alleging breaches of corporate governance at Tameside College. An investigation into these allegations has been completed. The complainant was interviewed as part of the investigation. The report of the investigation is now being considered and decisions based on its findings will be made in the near future. The College has received one claim of unfair dismissal during the period relevant to the inquiry. This claim is outstanding but does not relate to any matter pertinent to the inquiry.

Strategic Training For Apparel And Textiles Programme

Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action she is taking to secure the continuation of the strategic training for apparel and textiles programme after June.

Ivan Lewis: The programme is currently due to end in September. I have recently written to Patricia Hewitt suggesting that officials from my Department meet colleagues from DTI, the Learning and Skills Council, the Sector Skills Development Agency and others with an interest in the programme to discuss how we might work together to continue to support training in this important sector.

Computers

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her Answer of 8th March, references 39110 and 39111, what the total cost was of the Computers Within Reach pilot scheme; how much funding remains; what evaluation has been made of the success of the scheme; and how this will inform future policy on the computers within reach concept.

Ivan Lewis: Pursuant to the reply given by John Healey on 19 March 2002, Official Report, column 256W, the expenditure of 5.5 million on the Computers Within Reach Scheme referred to the 200102 financial year only. The total expenditure on the scheme over the last two financial years was 7.1 million.

PRIME MINISTER

Bushmeat

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Prime Minister if he intends to raise the issue of the unsustainable bushmeat trade at the world summit on sustainable development.

Tony Blair: The conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and the illegal international trade in forest products will be raised at WSSD. The issue of unsustainable trade in bushmeat could be raised in this context.

Bushmeat

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Prime Minister if his working group on forestry in preparations for the world summit on sustainable development has examined mechanisms for tackling the unsustainable trade in bushmeat.

Tony Blair: As part of the preparation for the World Summit on Sustainable Development the working group on forestry has been considering mechanisms for tackling the unsustainable use of natural resources, including wildlife, and has produced the paper World SummitFramework for Forestry Initiative.
	The conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and the illegal international trade in forest products will be raised at WSSD. The issue of the unsustainable trade in bushmeat could be raised in this context.

12 Downing Street

Tim Collins: To ask the Prime Minister what costs have been incurred in refurbishing 12 Downing Street since June 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: For the financial year 200102 the Cabinet Office Resource Account is still undergoing final adjustments and awaiting audit. This will cover expenditure for Numbers 10,11 and 12 Downing Street. I will write to the hon. Member with details once the account is finalised, and I will place a copy in the Library.

No. 10 Downing Street

David Laws: To ask the Prime Minister what the total cost of refurbishment and repairs to No. 10 Downing street was in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: Maintaining, refurbishing and work associated with security across Number 10 Downing Street is part of a continuing programme of work. Number 10 Downing Street now as in the past is maintained to standards appropriate to its status as a Grade 1 listed building, in consultation with English Heritage and other experts as appropriate. The building also fulfils an important representational role.
	Expenditure is recorded by financial years. Since 2 May 1997, the recorded expenditure by the Cabinet Office for projects covering Numbers 10 and 11 Downing Street is:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 199798 188,000 
			 199899 348,000 
			 19992000 662,000 
			 200001 453,000 
		
	
	The expenditure is mainly attributable to security measures required, maintenance, converting rooms into office accommodation and the refurbishment and continuing upkeep of the State Rooms. Only a small proportion relates to work on the Prime Minister's personal accommodation.
	Expenditure prior to 199798 is recorded in respect of the Numbers 1012 Downing Street complex as a whole. On this basis, recorded expenditure is as follows:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 199596 504,700 
			 199697 1,486,775 
		
	
	For the financial year 200102 the Cabinet Office Resource Account is still undergoing final adjustments and awaiting audit. This will cover expenditure for 10, 11 and 12 Downing Street. I will write to the hon. Member with details once the account is finalised, and I will place a copy in the Library.

Health and Safety Commission

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the review of the location in Government of the Health and Safety Commission.

Tony Blair: Following the establishment of the Department for Transport as a department focussed solely on transport issues, I have decided that the Health and Safety Commission and the Health and Safety Executive will transfer to the Department for Work and Pensions. The Health and Safety Sponsorship Division, currently located within the Department for Transport, will also transfer to the Department for Work and Pensions. These changes will take effect from today 24 July 2002.

Anglo-Irish Ministerial Meetings

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Prime Minister on what dates he has held meetings with ministers in the Irish Government since 1 June 2000; where each meeting took place; which Irish Government departments were involved in each meeting; and which ministers and officials from the Irish Government attended each meeting.

Tony Blair: Since 1 June 2000, I have met the Taoiseach on the following occasions:
	
		
			 Date Location/Event 
		
		
			 7 June 2000 Dinner at No. 10 
			 19 June Meeting in Oporto 
			 31 July Working lunch at No. 10 
			 6 September UN Summit, New York 
			 10 October Talks at No. 10 
			 12 October Bilateral talks during Informal European Council, Biarritz 
			 20 October Asia/Europe Business Forum in Seoul 
			 23 November Bilateral talks on flight to EU/Balkans Summit in Zagreb 
			 7 December Nice European Council 
			 31 January 2001 Dinner at No. 10 
			 28 February Dinner at No. 10 
			 8 March Meeting at Hillsborough 
			 24 March Stockholm European Council 
			 14 June Bilateral at EU/US Summit in Gothenburg 
			 18 June Meetings at No. 10 
			 28 June Working lunch at Hillsborough 
			 4 July Dinner at No. 10 
			 911 July Meetings at Chequers and then Weston Park 
			 1314 July Meetings and Press Conference at Weston Park 
			 27 July Meeting in Sedgfield 
			 19 September Meeting at No. 10 
			 30 November Bilateral at British Irish Council, Dublin Castle 
			 18 February 2002 Working lunch at No. 10 
			 14 June Bilateral at British Irish Council, Jersey 
			 4 July Meeting and press conference at Hillsborough

Official Visits

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 20 June 2002, Official Report, column 463W, when he will publish the detailed list of cabinet ministers' visits overseas and information on expenditure by all Ministers for the period 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Birmingham Hall Green (Mr. McCabe) today.

Official Visits

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Prime Minister what assistance was received for (a) non-Governmental organisations, (b) overseas Governments and (c) other agencies in meeting the cost of departmental special advisers' official travel between 31 March 2001 and 31 March 2002.

Tony Blair: All official travel by special advisers is undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers and the Civil Service Management Code. The cost of official travel will normally be met by individual departments.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Prime Minister what the total cost was to the Government of employing departmental and non-departmental special advisers between 31 March 2001 and 31 March 2002; and what percentage of this total was (a) salary and related expenses and (b) other costs.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Ellesmore Port and Neston (Mr. Miller) today.

Special Advisers

Andrew Miller: To ask the Prime Minister what the cost is of the paybill for special advisers in 200102; what the paybands are for 200203; and how many special advisers there are in each payband, broken down by department.

Tony Blair: The paybands and pay ranges for special advisers for 200203 are as follows:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 Scheme Maximum 128,125 
			 Pay Band 4 76,876 to 92,250 
			 Pay Band 3 and Premium 57,401 to 89,175 
			 Pay Band 2 45,101 to 58,240 
			 Pay Band 1 34,851 to 45,760 
			 Pay Band 0 Up to 34,850 
		
	
	At 22 July 2002, the number of special advisers in each payband by department is as follows:
	
		
			 Department 0 1 2 3 4 
		
		
			 No 10(68)  6 6 11 2 
			 Office of the Deputy Prime Minister(69)   2 1  
			 Chief Whip's Office  1 2   
			 Culture, Media and Sport1  
			 Defence   1   
			 Education and Skills   1 1  
			 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs  1 1   
			 Foreign and Commonwealth Office2  
			 Health2  
			 Home Office(70)   4   
			 International Development(71)  
			 Leader of the House of Lords(72)  1 1   
			 Lord Chancellor's Department 1 
			 Northern Ireland Office   2   
			 President of the Council   2   
			 Scotland Office  1 1   
			 Trade and Industry(73)  1 1 1  
			 HM Treasury(74),(75)  1 1 2 1 
			 Transport(76)   1   
			 Wales Office  1
			 Work and Pensions(77)  
			 Total  13 26 21 4 
		
	
	The cost of special advisers in 200102 is 5.1 million.
	(68)Plus two special advisers who are paid beyond Pay Band 4 but still within the scheme.
	(69)Provision for three full-time posts but currently only 2.5 special advisers employed.
	(70)Includes one special adviser who is part-time.
	(71)One special adviser has been appointed but the job has not yet been evaluated.
	(72)Includes one part-time special adviser who provides advice to the Minister for the Cabinet Office.
	(73)Plus one adviser who is part-time and unpaid.
	(74)Includes the Chief Economic Adviser to the Treasury.
	(75)Plus the five members of the Council of Economic Advisers who are employed on special adviser terms (one in Band 4, three in Band 3 and one in Band 1one is part-time).
	(76)Plus one special adviser who has been appointed but the job has not yet been evaluated.
	(77)One special adviser has been appointed but the job has not yet been evaluated.

Public Pronouncements

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Prime Minister what the (a) dates, (b) locations and (c) sources of attributable (i) articles, interviews or contributions for the media, books or other journals and (ii) speeches or presentations made in the public domain, by his Chief of Staff, Director of Communications or other members of his office since March 2001; who in the Department authorised the activity; and on what date this activity was recorded with the Departmental Head of Information.

Tony Blair: All special advisers' contacts with the media, and speeches and presentations made by them are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers. All civil servants, including special advisers, are expected to keep departmental heads of information informed of contacts with the media. Details of such contacts are for internal purposes only.

Knighthoods

Peter Bradley: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list, broken down by party, the hon. and right hon. Members that have been knighted in each year since 1979.

Tony Blair: The information requested is being collated and I will write to the hon. Member in due course.

Ministerial Meetings

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Prime Minister how many formal and official meetings he has held with the First Minister of Scotland since May 1999, broken down by (a) subject and (b) date.

Tony Blair: I have meetings with the First Minister on a regular basis, both bilaterally and through the Joint Ministerial Committee, to discuss matters of mutual interest.

Ministerial Meetings

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what dates and in what locations Ministers in his Department held meetings with Ministers and officials of the Irish Government since 1 June 2000; which Ministers were involved in each meeting; which Irish Government Departments were involved in each meeting; and which Ministers and officials from the Irish Government attended each meeting.

Mr. Murphy: I refer to the answer you received from my hon. Friend the Minister for Europe on 20 June 2002, Official Report, column 533W.

Ministerial Visits

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list (a) Government expenditure on ministerial overseas visits for the financial years 199697 to 200102 and (b) all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet ministers costing in excess of 500 between 1 April 2001 and 31 March 2002 including the cost, destination and purpose of each visit.

Tony Blair: Expenditure on Ministerial overseas visits for the period requested is estimated as follows:
	
		
			 Year  million 
		
		
			 199697 7.9 
			 2 May 1997 to 31 March 1998 6.4 
			 199899 4.9 
			 19992000 4.6 
			 200001 4.7 
			 200102 5.6 
		
	
	The figure for 200102 reflects payments made so far for travel undertaken in this period; a few bills have yet to be submitted to departments for payment.
	A list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing 500 or more during the period 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 has been placed in the Libraries of the House. The list provides details of the date, destination and purpose of all such visits and the cost of Ministers' travel and accommodation where appropriate.

Departmental Jobs

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Prime Minister how many jobs under the remit of his offices excluding those under the departmental remit of his Cabinet Ministers, are located in (a) Scotland, (b) England, excluding Greater London, (c) Greater London, (d) Wales, (e) Northern Ireland and (f) overseas, broken down by (i) whole-time equivalent jobs and (ii) the percentage per each individual body or organisation.

Tony Blair: All jobs in my Office are located in London.

International Students

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has for the future of the Prime Minister's Initiative to attract more international students to the UK.

Tony Blair: Through the British Council, we will continue to invest in marketing the benefits of UK education and training. Our aim is to meet the target of recruiting an extra 75,000 international students from outside the European Union by 2005, and we are currently on track to achieve this. We hope these students will gain advantage from the high quality and wide international recognition of their UK qualifications and remain friends of the UK, helping our trade and diplomacy. This initiative is a partnership with all education and training institutions across the UK and we welcome their continuing support.

Throckmorton

Peter Luff: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make an official visit to Throckmorton to study the effects of his Government's policies.

Tony Blair: I have no immediate plans to do so.

Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and Health Service Commissioner for England

James Plaskitt: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about the offices of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and Health Service Commissioner for England.

Tony Blair: The current Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and Health Service Commissioner for England, Sir Michael Buckley, plans to retire later this year.
	Her Majesty has been pleased to approve the appointment of Ann Abraham as Sir Michael's successor as Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and Health Service Commissioner for England. Ann Abraham, who is currently the Legal Services Ombudsman, will take up appointment later this year.
	I am grateful to Sir Michael for the dedication and commitment he has shown over the past five and a half years, and for the valuable contribution he has made to public life.

Information Commissioner

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Prime Minister who the new Information Commissioner will be.

Tony Blair: I am pleased to announce that the Queen has approved the appointment of Mr. Richard Thomas as the new Information Commissioner, to succeed Mrs. Elizabeth France CBE later this year. Mr. Thomas is currently Director of Public Policy at the law firm Clifford Chance. He is expected to take up his duties as Commissioner on 30 November.

Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe

Meg Munn: To ask the Prime Minister what changes there are to the leadership of the United Kingdom Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

Tony Blair: The right hon. Member for Birmingham, Hodge Hill (Mr. Davis) replaces the right hon. Member for Walsall, South (Mr. George), who has been elected President of the Assembly, as leader of the Delegation. The right hon. Member for Walsall, South (Mr. George) remains a Member of the Delegation.

WALES

Comprehensive Spending Review

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff have contributed to his Department's input to the Spending Review.

Mr. Murphy: The Spending Review involves a comprehensive assessment of the department's performance, priorities and resource requirements and a range of staff make a contribution.

Temporary Staff

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many employees under contract from temping agencies worked in his Department; and how much was spent on temporary staff (a) in total and (b) as a percentage of the total staffing budget in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Mr. Murphy: My Department came into existence in July 1999.
	Information is not readily available for the whole period. However my Department currently has 4 agency staff out of a total of 48. Expenditure on agency staff amounted to 86,000 in 200001; 35,000 in 200102; and 17,000 in the first quarter of 200203.
	The figure for 200001 equates to 4.8 per cent. of the paybill for that year; the spend in 200102 equates to 1.4 per cent. of the paybill.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the (a) dates, (b) location and (c) sources were of attributable (i) articles, interviews or contributions for the media, books or other journals and (ii) speeches or presentations made in the public domain, by departmental special advisers since March 2001; who in his Department authorised the activity; and on what date this activity was recorded with the departmental Head of Information.

Mr. Murphy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him today by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

Public Consultations

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the public consultations undertaken by his Department since 8 June 2001, indicating the (a) length and (b) number of responses received in each case.

Mr. Murphy: Since 8 June 2001, my department has undertaken consultations on the following:
	jointly with Department of Health, Draft mental health Bill;
	jointly with Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Tenancies Regulatory Reform Order from March to June 2002;
	draft NHS (Wales) Bill from May to July 200, available on line, with an e-mail address for respondents, and in print.
	Both the Welsh Affairs Committee and the National Assembly for Wales considered and reported on the draft NHS (Wales) Bill, with a further 31 responses from other organisations

Departmental Reports

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 
	(1)  how much the (a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002 departmental reports cost to produce;
	(2)  what the total production cost to the Wales Office was of the Departmental report in (a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001;
	(3)  what the total cost was of producing the Wales Office departmental report in 2002.

Mr. Murphy: The cost to the Wales Office of producing departmental reports for those years was:
	
		
			  
		
		
			 1999 The Wales Office did not produce a departmental report in 1999; 
			 2000 2,576.25; 
			 2001 23,932.63; and 
			 2002 20,264.45. 
		
	
	The Wales Office 2000 report cost less than the other reports because it was shorter and very basic, compared with the later reports. It was done in black and white and the pages were simply folded and stapled whereas the Wales Office 2001 and 2002 reports were bigger, spine-bound, in colour and were altogether less simple in style.
	Another factor affecting the cost is the subsidy paid by the Department to determine the cover price. Because Wales Office reports are bilingual they have twice as many pages as a comparable single language report. The subsidy the Department pays, therefore, enables it to keep down the cover price to something comparable with a single language report. There are other factors which affect the amount paid but these are a commercial matter for the Stationery Office.

Departmental Reports

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the cost was of publishing his Department and its predecessor's annual report for each of the past five years.

Mr. Murphy: The cost to the Departments of producing Welsh Office and Wales Office departmental reports for those years was:
	
		
			  
		
		
			 1998 7,388.82; 
			 1999 9,828.91; 
			 2000 2,576.25; 
			 2001 23,932.63; and 
			 2002 20,264.45. 
		
	
	The Wales Office 2000 report cost less than the other reports to produce because it was shorter and very basic, compared with the later reports. It was done in black and white and the pages were simply folded and stapled whereas the Wales Office 2001 and 2002 and the Welsh Office 1998 and 1999 reports were bigger, spine-bound, in colour and were altogether less simple in style.
	Another factor affecting the cost is the subsidy paid by the Department to determine the cover price. Because Wales Office and old Welsh Office reports are bilingual they have twice as many pages as a comparable single language report. The subsidy paid by the Department, therefore, enables the cover price to be kept to something comparable with a single language report. The Welsh Office cover prices were much higher than the Wales Office's (11.50 and 14.00 compared with 4.70, 7.00 and 8.00) so a lower subsidy would have been paid. There are other factors affecting the amount paid but these are a commercial matter for The Stationery Office.

Overseas Visits

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the overseas trips on departmental business that have been undertaken in each of the last five years by officials in his Department; and what the (a) cost, (b) purpose and (c) result was in each case.

Mr. Murphy: All overseas travel by officials in my department is undertaken in accordance with the principles set in Chapter 8 of the Civil Service Management Code. Detailed information about individual trips is not held centrally, and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Political Appointments

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many political appointments he has made in the Welsh Office since taking office.

Mr. Murphy: In accordance with the Ministerial Code, I have two Special Advisers. Since 1999 I have made 3 appointments to these posts.
	In addition I have one Parliamentary Private Secretary, and since 1999 have appointed two Members of Parliament to this post.

Job Location

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many jobs under the remit of his Department in (a) the core department, (b) non-departmental public bodies, (c) executive agencies and (d) independent statutory bodies, organisations and bodies financially sponsored by his Department and other such organisations, are located in (i) Scotland, (ii) England, excluding Greater London, (iii) Greater London, (iv) Wales, (v) Northern Ireland and (vi) overseas, broken down by (A) whole time equivalent jobs and (B) the percentage per individual department, body or organisation.

Mr. Murphy: My department's structure currently contains 48 permanent posts, 9 of which are based in Cardiff and the remainder of which are based in central London. It has no NDPBs, agencies, or other related bodies.

Overseas Profile

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent steps he has taken to extend the profile of Wales abroad.

Mr. Murphy: I and my colleague the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Wales undertake a regular programme of activities with the aim of extending the profile of Wales abroad. This programme includes: visits to the European institutions; bilateral visits overseas; meetings with key national and regional politicians, both in the UK and abroad; attendance at international conferences and events; support for trade missions overseas; and meetings with UK based representatives of Wales' overseas partners.
	In the past twelve months, our programme has included visits to Brussels, Strasbourg, Spain and the Czech Republic and other activities with partners from the USA, Ireland, Hungary, Poland, the Netherlands, Spain and Slovakia. Future meetings are planned with Danish and Japanese representatives.

Civil Courts

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Home Office concerning the Government's proposals for improvement of civil courts.

Mr. Murphy: I have regular discussions with colleagues about matters affecting Wales.
	The Court Service Report Modernising the Civil and Family Courts is the responsibility of my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor. This involves a major programme of investment, which will enable the Court Service to change radically the way that the courts across all jurisdictions work, and provide a significantly improved overall level of service to its customers. I understand that the National Assembly for Wales was consulted about the programme.

Monetary Union

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with Welsh Assembly Government colleagues concerning the impact of possible monetary union on Wales.

Mr. Murphy: I have regular discussions with the First Secretary and his Cabinet Colleagues on a range of issues affecting Wales including Monetary union.

Tuberculosis

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the National Assembly for Wales concerning the backlog in processing the results of TB tests; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Murphy: The interim programme of action to tackle TB in Wales announced on 29 May 2002 gives priority to tackling the backlog of overdue tests. The State Veterinary Service in Wales has already acted to minimise the spread of TB through the introduction of movement restrictions on herds in annual testing parishes with overdue 6 and 12-month check tests. Prioritisation has also been given to those herds with tuberculosis tests that are overdue. Significant progress has been made. In Wales the number of overdue tests has reduced from 5,135 at 30 November to 3,450 at 30 June 2002.

Software

Brian White: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what his policy is towards using open source software; and what percentage is used in his Department.

Mr. Murphy: IT services are provided to my department by the National Assembly for Wales under a Service Level Agreement. The system does not use open source software.

HEALTH

Correspondence

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter of 11 February from Councillor Carole Paternoster of Aylesbury Vale District Council about the provision of hospital beds in the Aylesbury area.

David Lammy: holding answer 22 July 2002
	The Department has no record of receiving this correspondence. The Ministerial Correspondence Unit is seeking a copy of this correspondence.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will obtain for the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton a reply to the letter regarding Ms M. Allcock which the right hon. Member sent to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 27 May and which the Secretary of State fowarded to the Medicines Control Agency for reply.

Alan Milburn: A reply was sent on 24 July.

Correspondence

Marion Roe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the hon. Member for Broxbourne will receive a reply to her letters of 12 March, 11 April, 9 May, 6 June and 4 July 2002 relating to her constituent, Mr. Gordon Thorne of Hoddesdon.

David Lammy: holding answer 9 July 2002
	A reply was sent 24 July.

Correspondence

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letters from the hon. and learned member for Harborough regarding (a) St Luke's Hospital and the Coventry Road Hospital in Market Harborough, dated 7 February, (b) Mrs. C Foreman of Wigston, dated 10 January and (c) a constituent and Leicester City Social Services Department concerning allegations of child abuse dated 30 July 2001.

Jacqui Smith: Replies were sent to the hon. Member's letters on 24 June, 2 July and 24 July respectively.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 25 April from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Miss Irene Boyd.

Alan Milburn: A reply was sent on 18 July.

Waiting Lists

Ann Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes have been made since May 2001 in the way waiting lists are compiled; and whether NHS trusts in England apply the same criteria.

John Hutton: The NHS Plan set waiting time targets for first outpatient appointments following general practitioner (GP) referral and for inpatient treatment. Waiting list data are collected from National Health Service trusts to monitor progress against these targets. NHS trusts are required to compile their waiting list returns according to criteria and guidance set out by the Department and the NHS information authority.
	Further to recommendations made in the national audit office report Inappropriate Adjustments to NHS Waiting Lists, guidance setting out the main rules for recording waiting list or waiting time information, and some related technical guidance prepared by the NHS information authority, will be sent to trust directors of information shortly. The NHS and social care bulletin number 21 issued on 18 July 2002 referred to this forthcoming guidance and also reminded chief executives of their duties of reasonableness to patients and honesty to the public when reporting waiting list information.

Premature Retirements

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what amounts have been provided for in 200203 (a) primary care trust budgets and (b) strategic health authority budgets for the cost of premature retirements.

John Hutton: holding answer 14 May 2002
	No funding has been earmarked in allocations to health authorities and primary care trusts in 200203 to meet the costs of premature retirements. National Health Service organisations meet such costs from their general allocations.

Cardiology Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were waiting for cardiology operations in (a) the quarter ending March 1997 and (b) the latest available quarter in each health authority in England.

John Hutton: The table below shows the number of patients waiting for elective cardiology admission by Health Authority as at 31 March 1997 and 31 March 2002.
	The total number of patients awaiting cardiology operations has increased by 5,662. In the same period, the number of cardiology episodes increased from 177,304 in 199697 to 255,998 in 200001.
	
		Patients waiting for elective cardiology admission: Position at 31 March 1997 and 31 March 2002(78): Health Authorites, England
		
			 Health Authority 31 March 1997 31 March 2002(78) 
		
		
			 Avon HA 489 886 
			 Barking and Havering HA 198 289 
			 Barnet HA 153 . 
			 Barnet, Enfield and Haringey . 389 
			 Barnsley HA 64 51 
			 Bedfordshire HA 219 423 
			 Berkshire HA 182 372 
			 Bexley and Greenwich HA 106 . 
			 Birmingham HA 469 489 
			 Bradford HA 157 107 
			 Brent and Harrow HA 561 222 
			 Bromley HA 214 . 
			 Bromley, Bexley and Greenwich . 366 
			 Buckinghamshire HA 169 440 
			 Bury and Rochdale HA 165 202 
			 Calderdale and Kirklees HA 76 137 
			 Cambridge and Huntingdon HA 301 . 
			 Cambridgeshire HA . 538 
			 Camden and Islington HA 140 191 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly HA 398 64 
			
			 County Durham and Darlington HA 137 135 
			 Coventry HA 171 157 
			 Croydon HA 188 302 
			 Doncaster HA 101 102 
			 Dorset HA 479 319 
			 Dudley HA 49 54 
			 Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow HA 795 599 
			 EandN Hertfordshire HA 196 . 
			 East Kent HA 428 344 
			 East Lancashire HA 280 448 
			 East London and City HA 436 671 
			 East Norfolk HA 348 . 
			 East Riding and Hull HA 8 340 
			 East Surrey HA 197 172 
			 East Sussex Brighton and Hove HA 125 93 
			 Enfield and Haringey HA 186 . 
			 Gateshead and South Tyneside HA 236 59 
			 Gloucestershire HA 81 207 
			 Herefordshire HA . 16 
			 Hertfordshire HA . 763 
			 Hillingdon HA 94 163 
			 Isle of Wight HA 11 . 
			 Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South 
			 East Hampshire . 461 
			 Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster HA 189 274 
			 Kingston and Richmond HA 126 301 
			 Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham HA 651 378 
			 Leeds HA 357 203 
			 Leicestershire HA 411 827 
			 Lincolnshire HA 189 223 
			 Liverpool HA 133 396 
			 Manchester HA 432 452 
			 Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth HA 260 572 
			 Morecambe Bay HA 101 210 
			 Newcastle and North Tyneside HA 330 197 
			 Norfolk HA . 570 
			 North and East Devon HA 8 19 
			 North and Mid Hampshire HA 140 368 
			 North Cheshire HA 72 190 
			 North Cumbria HA 221 196 
			 North Derbyshire HA 161 137 
			 North Essex HA 317 717 
			 North Nottinghamshire HA 62 123 
			 North Staffordshire HA 222 88 
			 North West Anglia HA 211 . 
			 North West Lancashire HA 345 802 
			 North Yorkshire HA 53 92 
			 Northamptonshire HA 154 92 
			 Northumberland HA 189 153 
			 Nottingham HA 21 155 
			 Oxfordshire HA 208 235 
			 Portsmouth and SE Hampshire HA 151 . 
			 Redbridge and Waltham Forest HA 284 413 
			 Rotherham HA 94 39 
			 Salford and Trafford HA 224 243 
			 Sandwell HA 59 298 
			 Sefton HA 51 126 
			 Sheffield HA 230 308 
			 Shropshire HA 46 65 
			 Solihull HA 87 90 
			 Somerset HA 119 166 
			 South and West Devon HA 328 70 
			 South Cheshire HA 184 271 
			 South Essex HA 329 680 
			 South Humber HA 25 48 
			 South Lancashire HA 127 344 
			 South Staffordshire HA 107 60 
			 Southampton and SW Hampshire HA 387 618 
			 Southern Derbyshire HA 32 60 
			 St Helens and Knowsley HA 103 303 
			 Stockport HA 141 123 
			 Suffolk HA 367 542 
			 Sunderland HA 205 143 
			 Tees HA 184 139 
			 Wakefield HA 238 44 
			 Walsall HA 16 27 
			 Warwickshire HA 187 161 
			 West Hertfordshire HA 131 . 
			 West Kent HA 338 337 
			 West Pennine HA 222 238 
			 West Surrey HA 227 141 
			 West Sussex HA 209 332 
			
			 Wigan and Bolton HA 286 322 
			 Wiltshire HA 167 383 
			 Wirral HA 127 248 
			 Wolverhampton HA 35 40 
			 Worcestershire HA 191 107 
		
	
	(78) This data is consistent with the Department's statistical press notice of 10 May 2002 about end March 2002 waiting list/times. However, some of the figures may change slightly when final details about the end March position at Royal United Hospitals, Bath become available.
	Source:
	Department of Health form QF01.
	Note:
	. Denotes data not applicable due to non-existence of Health Authority at that time.

Derbyshire Primary Care Trusts

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the salary of the (a) Chair and (b) Chief Executive, and the total spending and capitation fee, of each of the Derbyshire primary care trusts; and if he will list the distance from target of the annual spending in each primary care trust area in (a) 200001, (b) 200102 and (c) 200203.

John Hutton: Chairs of primary care trusts (PCTs) receive an allowance. There are three levels of chair allowance:
	
		
			  
		
		
			 band 1 20,420 
			 band 2 18,154 
			 band 3 16,017 
		
	
	Table 1 shows the allowance band for the chairs of the primary care tusts in Derbyshire.
	
		Table 1: Chair's allowance for PCTs in Derbyshire
		
			 Primary care trust Chair allowance 
		
		
			 Amber Valley band 2 
			 Central Derby band 2 
			 Chesterfield band 2 
			 Derbyshire Dales and South Derbyshire band 3 
			 Erewash band 3 
			 Greater Derby band 2 
			 High Peak and Dales band 3 
			 North East Derbyshire band 2 
		
	
	Chief executive salaries are not collected centrally.
	Of the 8 primary care trusts in Derbyshire, only Central Derby Primary Care Trust was operational in 200001. The total expenditure, or gross operating cost, of the primary care trust for that year was 70.08 million. Total expenditure figures for 200102 and 200203 are not yet available.
	For each of the three years, the Department has made allocations to health authorities, and health authorities have subsequently made allocations to primary care groups and primary care trusts within their area.
	Table 2 shows the allocation and distance from target in 200001 for the 9 previously existing primary care groups (PCGs) in Derbyshire. All of the primary care groups became part of primary care trusts in 2001.
	
		Table 2: Allocation and distance from target 200001
		
			 200001  
			  Allocation Distance from target 
			 PCG 000s 000s 
		
		
			 Chesterfield PCG 75,979 -1,060 
			 Derby Dales PCG 47,244 493 
			 Derby West PCG 45,424 -2,286 
			
			 East Derby PCG 57,898 -1,783 
			 Erewash PCG 63,941 1,302 
			 High Peak and Dales PCG 68,409 2,243 
			 North Amber Valley PCG 39,671 -1,727 
			 North East Derbyshire PCG 104,543 -2,273 
			 South Amber Valley PCG 47,121 -156 
		
	
	Table 3 shows the allocation and distance from target for the primary care trusts in Derbyshire for each of the years 200001 to 200203.
	
		Table 3: Allocation and distance from target 200001 to 200203, PCTs -- 200001200102200203
		
			  Allocation Distance from target Allocation Distance from target Allocation Distance from target 
			 PCT 000s 000s 000s 000s ( per cent.) 000s 000s ( per cent.) 
		
		
			 Amber Valley PCT n/a n/a 84,531 -3,388 (-3.85) 93,848 -3,659 (-3.52) 
			 Central Derby PCT 73,684 -1,801 88,138 -2,427 (-2.68) 94,592 -4,389 (-4.16) 
			 Chesterfield PCT n/a n/a 82,599 417 (0.51) 92,842 402 (0.41) 
			 Derbyshire Dales and South Derbyshire PCT n/a n/a 55,080 -1,451 (-2.57) 61,312 -1,793 (-2.66) 
			 Erewash PCT n/a n/a 72,512 -189 (-0.26) 79,550 2,392 (2.90) 
			 Greater Derby PCT n/a n/a 105,365 -463 (-0.44) 117,004 -2,171 (-1.71) 
			 High Peak and Dales PCT n/a n/a 74,422 3,368 (4.74) 81,498 3,226 (3.85) 
			 North East Derbyshire PCT n/a n/a 112,060 -2,225 (-1.95) 122,632 -1,020 (-0.77)

Domiciliary Oxygen Therapy Service

Kevin Barron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish his Department's review on the Domiciliary Oxygen Therapy service; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The review of the domiciliary oxygen service has not yet been concluded. We hope to be in a position shortly to say what steps we propose to take in the light of the work which has been done so far.

Branded Drugs

Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of (a) the cost to the health service and (b) consequences for patients of the practice among pharmaceutical companies of withdrawing branded drugs from the market shortly before the expiry of their patents and replacing them with similar patented formulations; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The Department is aware of only two instances of companies withdrawing a branded drug from the market shortly before patent expiry. In both cases, the replacement products were no more expensive than those that were withdrawn, and there was every reason to expect that generics would be available when the patent on the withdrawn product expired. In both cases, therapeutic alternatives were available for patients.

Morning-After Pill

Brian White: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what tests have been carried out on the morning-after pill prior to its authorisation for use;
	(2)  whether an audit of the effectiveness of the morning-after pill has been carried out.

David Lammy: Levonorgestrel 0.75 mg (the morning-after pill) was authorised in the UK as a prescription only medicine in November 1999. This followed advice from the committee on safety of medicines (CSM) who were satisfied as to the evidence of quality, safety and efficacy of levonorgestrel 0.75 mg for emergency contraception. The evidence considered by CSM included two World Health Organisation (WHO) sponsored pivotal studies. One study involving approximately 2000 women in 14 countries including the UK, has been published in the Lancet (1998). The other, published in the journal Human Reproduction (1993), involved 880 women. Copies are available in the Library.
	The WHO study published in the Lancet demonstrated that this method of emergency hormonal contraception prevented 86 per cent. of pregnancies when treatment was initiated within 72 hours of unprotected sex. The trial also showed that the efficacy is higher the sooner the product is taken after unprotected intercourse. If it is taken within 24 hours of unprotected sex the product is 95 per cent. effective, and this falls to about 56 per cent. if taken within 49 to 72 hours.

Food Labelling

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the labelling with the Union flag of food products processed in the United Kingdom but originating in other countries; and if he will make it his policy to restrict the use of the Union flag to food products originating within the UK.

Hazel Blears: The Food Standards Agency has issued guidance to enforcement authorities on interpretation of the law on country of origin labelling. The guidance makes it clear that the use of the Union flag, or any other indication of United Kingdom origin, on foods produced from ingredients sourced outside the UK may contravene legislation prohibiting misleading labelling. The agency is pressing for a statutory definition of the circumstances under which UK origin, or equivalent, claims can be made.

Food Standards Agency

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Food Standards Agency's Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition's sub-group on salt received copies of the references, studies, research and evidence listed in the submissions.

Hazel Blears: All the evidence referred to in the submissions was made available to the salt subgroup.

Food Standards Agency

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence the Food Standards Agency's Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition will use in their review of the evidence on salt.

Hazel Blears: Members of the salt subgroup requested a range of evidence in addition to that highlighted in submissions by stakeholders. This evidence is listed in the minutes of the meetings placed on the scientific advisory committee on nutrition website (www.sacn.gov.uk).

Food Standards Agency

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Food Standards Agency's Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition expects to contact the interested parties who submitted evidence to its review on salt and inform them of the procedure involved in the assessment of evidence.

Hazel Blears: Information on the procedure used by the salt subgroup to assess evidence is available to stakeholders through the minutes and papers of the meetings which have been placed on the scientific advisory committee on nutrition web site (www.sacn.gov.uk).

Abortion

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact an increase in induced medical abortions in the community will have on the hospital services of the NHS.

Hazel Blears: Within the National Health Service, abortions have traditionally been carried out in gynaecology wards and day care units. A 1999 survey showed that women can wait up to four or five weeks for an abortion in some parts of the country. There is clear evidence that the earlier in pregnancy an abortion is performed the lower the risk of complications. We therefore want to ensure that women who have legal grounds can access an abortion within three weeks as recommended by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists evidence based clinical guideline The Care of Women Seeking Induced Abortion.
	We plan to test, at a very limited number of sites on hospital premises, whether providing early medical abortions in a setting such as a family planning clinic can help to reduce waiting times. We will also monitor the impact on local hospital services, particularly whether greater use of medical abortion reduces waiting times for surgical abortion and whether staff and operating theatre time is released for other procedures.

Under-Age Pregnancy

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that plans to reduce under-age pregnancy protect children from sexual abuse and rape.

Hazel Blears: One of the central aims of the teenage pregnancy strategy is to help young people develop the skills to make informed choices about sexual relationships, to resist pressure to have early sex and to protect themselves from abuse and exploitation.
	This is being done through improving sex and relationship education and increasing young people's confidence in accessing professional advice and support. All guidance issued by the teenage pregnancy unit to professionals working with young people makes clear that it may be necessary to breach the usual confidentiality arrangements if there are serious child protection concerns, in order to engage further support for the young person.
	The Government is currently engaged in a comprehensive review of sex offences legislation and is considering how it should be modernised and strengthened to ensure that it protects everyone, particularly children and vulnerable people, from sexual abuse and exploitation. We plan to publish our proposals for legislative reform in the Autumn.

Non-executive Directors

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many non-executive directors on the (a) Doncaster Royal Infirmary/Mexborough Montagu/Bassetlaw Hospitals Trust, (b) Barnsley PCT, (c) Barnsley District General Hospital Trust and (d) Doncaster West PCT live in the Barnsley East and Mexborough constituency.

David Lammy: Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals National Health Service Trust, Barnsley Primary Care Trust and Doncaster West Primary Care Trust each have one non-executive board member who lives in the the Barnsley East and Mexborough constituency. None of the board members of Barnsley District General Hospital NHS Trust live in Barnsley East and Mexborough.

Waiting Times (Breast Cancer)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was in the (a) Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and (b) South East Hampshire Health Authority for treatment of breast cancer in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Average waiting times for treatment of breast cancer cannot be calculated from the data centrally collected.
	Monitoring of the 1 month target from diagnosis to first definitive treatment for breast cancer began in January 2002. The first available data, therefore, is Quarter 4 of 200102, JanuaryMarch 2002. The table below shows the performance against the 1 month target for Portsmouth Hospitals National Health Service Trust and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Trust. These NHS trusts were hosted by the former Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Health Authority. The Publication of Quarter 1 200203 data will be in September 2002.
	
		Performance against the 1 month target from diagnosis to treatment for breast cancer: Quarter 4 200102
		
			 NHS Trust Percentage of patients treated within 31 days Total patients treated Number of patients treated within 31 days 
		
		
			 Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust 98.5 67 66 
			 Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Trust 100.0 31 31 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health form QMCW.

Neurofibromatosis

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which health trusts have consultants specialising in neurofibromatosis; and how many doctors are receiving training in this illness.

Jacqui Smith: Information on the services provided by local trusts, the skill mix of the staff they employ and the training they receive is not held centrally.
	A range of doctors deal with this condition including consultants in ear, nose and throat, neurology, dermatology and clinical genetics. All doctors receive a general medical training but it is in their postgraduate years that consultants in the specialities mentioned above receive advanced training for conditions like neurofibromatosis.

Teenage Pregnancy

Gillian Merron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the value of peer education projects as part of the Government's Teenage Pregnancy Strategy.
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education regarding (a) the promotion and take up of peer education projects in schools, (b) action to promote the take up of peer education projects in schools and (c) the incorporation of peer education projects into the National Curriculum, as part of the Government's Teenage Pregnancy Strategy.
	(3)  what plans he has in place to increase funding for peer education projects as part of the Government's Teenage Pregnancy Strategy.

Hazel Blears: Peer education is recognised as having the potential to contribute to the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy by complementing classroom based Sex and Relationships Education (SRE). This is reflected in key SRE guidance documents (DfES, 2000; Ofsted, 2002). The Teenage Pregnancy Unit is working closely with the Department for Education and Skills to disseminate effective peer education approaches more widely.
	The available research evidence concludes that peer education can be effective in increasing young people's knowledge, can have positive impact on attitudes, intentions and self-esteem and, in some instances, can change behaviour. Young people like peer approaches; involvement in programmes raises the self-esteem of peer educators; and peer education projects give young people control over their own health.
	The Teenage Pregnancy Unit is funding a limited evaluation of a peer education programme called A PAUSE developed by Exeter University. The evaluation includes investigating the transferability of the programme to deprived areas and the potential to develop the programme for those at an increased risk of teenage pregnancy. The evaluation is due to report in March 2003.
	The Teenage Pregnancy Unit has recently published Involving Young People in Peer Education: A Guide to Establishing Sex and Relationships Peer Education Projects. This document aims to support those setting up SRE peer education projects and encourage good practice. Copies will be sent to every secondary school at the start of the new school year. The document will also be disseminated to local teenage pregnancy co-ordinators, National Healthy Schools co-ordinators and Initial Teacher Training providers.
	The Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) and Citizenship framework provides pupils with opportunities to engage in peer related projects. There are no plans to include peer education within the national curriculum. The Department for Education and Skills is developing its PSHE website for teachers to include examples of where peer education programmes are working well.
	Local teenage pregnancy partnership boards draw on a range of funding sources, including the Teenage Pregnancy Local Implementation Grant, to support projects which contribute to the local teenage pregnancy strategy. 16 million is available through the Local Implementation Grant during the current financial year. The level of funding planned for future years has not yet been decided.

HIV/AIDS

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he (a) has had and (b) plans with the Ukrainian Government to offer advice on AIDS prevention and treatment schemes.

Clare Short: I have been asked to reply. 
	My Department works closely with other donors involved in supporting the Ukrainian Government's HIV/AIDS prevention activities. We have funded a study on tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS for the World Bank office in Ukraine, which has been used to support the design of a $92 million loan for TB/AIDS treatment and prevention. We have also funded a study by the United Nations Development Programme on the cost-effectiveness of HIV prevention, also in support of the Ukrainian Government's national HIV/AIDS programme.
	guidance of the Afghan Transitional Administration (ATA), will be used to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis, support the return of refugees to Afghanistan, develop a comprehensive analysis of and approach to vulnerability in Afghanistan, and support the transition of competence, ownership and technical capacity to the ATA to meet the immediate needs of its own people.
	In addition to the 60 million that my Department disbursed from September 2001 to March 2002 under our humanitarian programme, we pledged at the Tokyo conference in January 2002 to commit a further 200 million over the next five years. This amount is already being allocated and disbursed. We are fully committed to helping to meet the immediate priorities of the ATA and are encouraging other donors to do likewise by maximising their contributions and speeding up the disbursement of promised assistance.

HIV/AIDS

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent representations he has received on (a) drug resistant disease and (b) HIV/AIDS;
	(2)  what progress has been made towards the discovery of new drugs to fight drug-resistant HIV/AIDS.

Hazel Blears: Since its widespread introduction in the mid-1990s, highly active antiretroviral therapy has improved the lifespan and quality of life for people with HIV and AIDS. This is reflected in the dramatic reduction in reported cases of AIDS and HIV-related deaths. There are concerns that this treatment effect is reaching a plateau and emerging drug resistance is an important limiting factor.
	Two advisory non-departmental public bodies received presentations recently from the public health laboratory service's antiviral susceptibility reference unitthe expert advisory group on AIDS and the specialist advisory committee on antimicrobial resistance (SACAR). The presentations covered drug resistance in patients on treatment for HIV infection and in untreated individuals recently infected. SACAR, which advises Government on all issues relating to antimicrobial resistance, has prioritised antiviral resistance for its future work programme.
	The pharmaceutical industry continues to have an active drug discovery programme for antiretroviral agents. New anti-HIV drugs are being developed, belonging both to the existing classes (reverse transcriptase inhibitors and protease inhibitors) but selected for their ability to work in the presence of resistant virus and novel classes such as fusion inhibitors and integrase inhibitors. Several promising new agents are undergoing clinical trials in the United Kingdom and abroad.

HIV/AIDS

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the programmes that the Government are involved with in regard to HIV/AIDS research (a) at present and (b) in 2003; and if he will make a statement on the nature of the Government's involvement.

Hazel Blears: The Government is involved in HIV/AIDS research programmes through the Medical Research Council (MRC), which is funded by the Department of Trade and Industry, through the other research councils, through the Department for International Development, through the Department of Health and through its executive non-departmental public bodies.
	The MRC has a wide portfolio of research into the causes and treatment of HIV/AIDS, ranging from basic immunological studies to clinical trials of drugs and vaccines. Examples of the latter include a new phase of the world's first clinical trial to test a vaccine for one of the most prevalent HIV strains affecting Africa, and an international co-operation to develop effective vaginal microbicides for prevention of HIV transmission. The Department for International Development is supporting both of these, and is also supporting two HIV/AIDS knowledge programmes.
	The Department of Health contributes to MRC-managed research on HIV/AIDS, through its policy research programme, mainly for epidemiological studies. In addition, the Department's health technology assessment and its new and emerging applications of technology programmes support relevant research.
	These programmes are ongoing and are not likely to be substantially different in 2003 than at present.

Fluoridation

Bill Etherington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his officials last met the MRC with regard to further research into the health effects of water fluoridation.

Hazel Blears: Departmental officials last met the Medical Research Council regarding fluoridation on 14 May.

Fluoridation

Bill Etherington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to receive the MRC report with regard to further research into the health effects of water fluoridation.

Hazel Blears: We expect to receive the report shortly.

Fluoridation

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the question of 16 May from the hon. Member for Workington on fluoridation in West Cumbria.

Hazel Blears: The Department has no record of receiving this correspondence. The Department's ministerial correspondence unit is seeking a copy of this correspondence.

Smallpox Vaccine

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether during the negotiations for the smallpox vaccine contract he was informed of which company was to manufacture the smallpox vaccine should Powderject be awarded the contract.

John Hutton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) on 3 July 2002, Official Report, column 454W.

Smallpox Vaccine

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether Powderject has guaranteed that the smallpox vaccine to be supplied by them will be free of BSE.

John Hutton: The smallpox vaccine to be supplied by Powderject is not manufactured using bovine cell culture. If a manufacturer wished to produce smallpox vaccine using virus culture in bovine cells, the appropriate regulatory guidance on cell characterisation and storage would have to be followed.
	European legislation demands that an application for marketing authorisation of a medicinal product in the European Union must include satisfactory demonstration of compliance with the European Note for Guidance on minimising the risk of transmitting animal spongiform encephalopathy agents via human and veterinary medicinal products.

Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices in the United States.

Hazel Blears: An official from the Department is a liaison member of the Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices in the United States and attends some of their meetings.

Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the application to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation of the open principles of Government.

Hazel Blears: The working practices of the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation (JCVI) have been influenced by the office of science and technology (OST) code of practice for scientific committees. The committee members are aware of the recommendations of the OST code of practice. Lists of members and their declarations of interest, and minutes of meetings are posted on the website at www.doh.gov.uk/jcvi/index.htm members are recruited to the JCVI in line with guidelines laid down by the commissioner for public appointments.

Rubella Vaccine

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department had with Glaxo SmithKline about their decision to cease production of single rubella vaccine.

Hazel Blears: Glaxo Smithkline informed officials in the Department that a decision had been taken by the company at a global level to stop production of single rubella vaccine. This information was unsolicited.

Pneumococcal Vaccination

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has conducted into the effects an over-65 age recommendation for pneumococcal vaccination would have on the health of people in Wyre Forest.

Hazel Blears: The Department asked the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) an independent expert advisory group, to review all available data on the use of this vaccine and report back. The costs and benefits of changing this policy are currently being considered.

Pneumococcal Vaccination

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many over-65 year olds have received the pneumococcal vaccination in Wyre Forest in the past five years.

Hazel Blears: Information on age breakdown of those receiving pneumococcal vaccine is not available.

MMR Vaccines

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with management of Glaxo Smithkline about production of component vaccines of MMR.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 17 July 2002
	Glaxo Smithkline informed officials that a decision had been taken by the company at a global level to stop production of single rubella vaccine. This information was unsolicited.

School Nursing Service

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 10 June 2002, Official Report, column 1114W, on the School Nursing Service, what steps he is taking to encourage primary care trusts to increase the number of school nurses.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 18 July 2002
	We recognise the importance of the school nursing contribution to improving the health of children and young people and have taken forward a three-year development programme to strengthen their role.
	It is for primary care trusts (PCTs) to determine the school-nursing workforce they require to meet the health needs of the local population. However, lessons from the national development programme are being disseminated to help PCTs develop school nursing services as effectively as possible to improve school age health and deliver on priority areas such as nutrition, smoking cessation and teenage pregnancy.
	Since 1997 we have increased the number of nurses working in the National Health Service by over 30,000. We intend to boost their numbers by a further 35,000 by 2008, increasing the available workforce from which school nurses can be drawn.
	An extra 100,000 has recently been made available on top of the existing national campaigns to support recruitment; retention and return to practice in primary care including school nursing. Whilst we do not collect data on the numbers of nurses working in the school health service, training establishments show a year on year increase in the number of commissions for specialist school nurse training.
	The children's national service framework (NSF) currently being developed will look at the role school nurses can play in delivering improved services to children, young people and their families. The NSF team is working closely with the children's care group workforce team to review the workforce implications of the NSF standards and ensure that workforce-related recommendations are achievable.

Patient Deregistrations

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the recommendations of the University of Sheffield report on patient deregistrations from GP lists.

John Hutton: The Sheffield University Report was published earlier this year and its recommendations are making a valuable contribution to our developing policy on patient choice, rights and responsibilities.

GPs

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GPs have benefited from the Golden Hello Scheme since November 2001.

John Hutton: The National Health Service golden hello scheme was introduced in November 2001. All new general practitioners taking up their first post in the NHS from 1 April 2001 are eligible for the scheme.
	To date, the Department has received over 1100 applications to the scheme. We will continue to monitor take up and keep the scheme under review.

General Practitioners

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to (a) cut the workload of general practitioners and (b) increase their pay.

John Hutton: New mechanisms that will enable general practitioners to vary their workload according to the income to which they aspire are set out in the new general medical services contract framework, which has been accepted by the profession. The Government is committed to investment in return for the delivery of higher quality, and a wider range, of primary services.

GP Golden Hello

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the NHS GP Golden Hello scheme.

John Hutton: The National Health Service golden hello scheme was introduced in November 2001. All new general practitioners taking up their first post in the NHS from 1 April 2001 are eligible for the scheme.
	To date, the Department has received over 1100 applications to the scheme. We will continue to monitor take up and keep the scheme under review.

Graduates

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the incentives available to encourage graduates to enter the National Health Service.

John Hutton: The Government is implementing a range of measures to improve recruitment and retention of all staff, including graduates. These include improving terms and conditions, encouraging the National Health Service to become a better employer through the Improving Working Lives and Positively Diverse programmes and developing better career pathways further information on improving working lives is available at www.doh.gov.uk/iwl. This approach is working. Applications to nursing and medical training are increasing. A scheme for graduate entrants to medical school is developing well.
	The NHS general management scheme has for the past two years been rated the second most popular scheme for graduates seeking a career in general management. The NHS finance scheme has this year been rated 8 in the finance sector. Whilst the starting salary offered to graduate trainees is slightly below the median for all graduate recruiters, the starting salary in 2002 will be 17,800 compared with a median of 19,000 across all sectors, the overall package offered to graduate trainees is worth around 30,000. This includes:
	annual performance award of up to 6 per cent. of salary;
	fully funded course of professional study, leading to a recognised qualification in finance or management;
	personal development programme;
	on-going development programme on completion of the scheme;
	NHS pension scheme;
	provision of laptop computer.

Doctors (Recuitment)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox) of 2 July 2002, Official Report, column 298W, on doctors (recuitment), which developing countries have Government to Government agreements with the UK; and if he will make a statement on the policy;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox), of 2 July 2002, Official Report, column 298W, on doctors (recruitment), what action his Department will take against those (a) National Health Service employers and (b) recruitment agencies who are found to have targeted developing countries, which do not have a Government to Government agreement with the UK, for recruitment of health care personnel.

John Hutton: holding answer 18 July 2002
	The Code of Practice on international recruitment states that the National Health Service should not actively recruit in developing countries. International recruitment co-ordinators in the Workforce Development Confederations work with employers to ensure they comply to the entire Code of Practice.
	The Department is currently compiling a list of recruitment agencies who comply to the Code of Practice and therefore do not actively recruit in developing countries. This list will be posted on the website for employers to use when entering into new recruitment contracts.
	The only Government to Government agreement we have with a developing country to recruit doctors is with India. This agreement was reached following an approach by the Indian Government who were concerned with some of the actions of recruitment agencies who were operating in India.

Over-Medication

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the statement of the hon. Member for Salford, (Ms Blears) of 13 February 2002, Official Report, column 112W, on over-medication, when he will respond to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam.

Jacqui Smith: I replied to the hon. Member on 13 February 2002.

Health Services (Sussex and Worthing)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what his latest calculations are for the GP : patient ratio in (a) Worthing and (b) each PCT in Sussex;
	(2)  what funds have been committed to improving access to primary care in Worthing since 1997; and what improvements have taken place.
	(3)  what monitoring is in place to make sure that funds earmarked for improving access to primary care in West Sussex are used for that purpose.
	(4)  what discussions he has had with the Adur, Arun and Worthing PCT about improving access to primary care in Worthing.
	(5)  What assessment he has made of routine appointment wait times at Worthing general practice surgeries.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 18 July 2002
	Information on the ratios of general practitioners (GPs) to patients is held at primary care trust (PCT) level but I am advised by the PCTs that this varies around the Surrey and Sussex Health Authority area, from 1,782 patients per GP in Bexhill and Rother PCT to 2,050 in Crawley PCT. In Worthing I am informed that the ratio is 1,885. I recognise that local GPs are under pressure and this concern is shared by Adur, Arun and Worthing PCT, which has advised me that it is concerned about the level of access to GP services in some practices. The PCT is actively working to improve the situation though a number of actions including effective use of incentive schemes.
	As part of the Department's commitment to improving access to primary care nationally, we have increased the PCT primary care access fund by 83.5 million to 168 million, with at least 48 million dedicated in 200203 to improving access in primary care and implementing advanced access. Significant funding has also been made available to enhance primary care services in Worthing. The former Worthing Primary Care Group invested 235,000 in 19992000 rising to 691,000 in 200102. The provision of additional funding has made it possible to improve access to a wide range of diagnostic and treatment services, as well as providing improved audit and clinical effectiveness. Adur, Arun and Worthing PCT monitors the use of all funds allocated to practices by practice and by use. The PCT will be included in the Audit Commission's national study to review use of all earmarked funds including primary care access monies.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not had any meetings with representatives from Adur, Arun and Worthing PCT to discuss access issues. I visited Worthing in August 2001 to meet representatives from local GP practices and we discussed local issues in the course of that meeting.

Overseas Visitors

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many overseas visitors to the UK were treated by the NHS in each of the last three years for which figures are available; what the total cost was to the NHS; how many reimbursed the NHS and by how much; and how many failed to reimburse the NHS, and by how much.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 19 July 2002
	This information is not collected centrally.

NHS Dentistry

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what policies he has to increase access to NHS dentistry in Gloucestershire; and what offers he has made to private dentists to re-enter the NHS as part of this.

David Lammy: holding answer 19 July 2002
	Access to National Health Service dentistry is an important issue for this Government and we have invested over 100 million in the last 18 months to modernise NHS dentistry.
	We recognise that the provision of NHS dental care in Gloucestershire has been a challenge over the last few years. During 200102 Gloucestershire Health Authority received 1.35 million for their two personal dental service pilots, 247,100 from the modernisation fund and 16,500 from the dentistry action plan fund. The Gloucestershire personal dental service pilots are a growing service and more capacity will become available over the coming months.
	The NHS enjoys very good working relationships with the whole dental community in Gloucestershire, both salaried and private dentists, with much collaborative planning continuing to take place to increase access to dentistry for Gloucestershire's population.

Clinical Negligence

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the annual expenditure by the NHS Litigation Authority on clinical negligence claims was in each year since 1995.

David Lammy: holding answer 19 July 2002
	According to the National Audit Office summarised accounts for the National Health Service (England) expenditure for claims and associated costs for clinical negligence for the latest years available is set out in the following table:
	
		
			 Year Expenditure 000s 
		
		
			 199697 74,411 
			 199798 11,498 
			 199899 309,855 
			 19992000 490,672 
			 200001 3,116,589

Clinical Negligence

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors are used to calculate levels of clinical negligence insurance premiums paid by NHS trusts and primary care trusts to the NHS Litigation Authority.

David Lammy: holding answer 19 July 2002
	The National Health Service Litigation Authority assesses each year, using actuarial analysis, the total pool of cash required to administer the clinical negligence scheme for trusts for the following financial year. This global pool is then translated into an individual contribution per member trust by calculating a weighted risk exposure for each trust and then allocating a charge accordingly.
	In short the risk exposure is calculated by assessing annually the levels of key staff involved in delivering clinical care across major service delivery areas.

Clinical Negligence

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was paid by English (a) NHS trusts and (b) primary care trusts to the NHS Litigation Authority in the form of clinical negligence insurance premiums in each year since 1995.

David Lammy: holding answer 19 July 2002
	Contributions to the clinical negligence scheme for trusts for each year were as follows:
	
		
			 Year NHS Trust 000s PCT 000s Total 
		
		
			 199697 7,963  7,963 
			 199798 10,864  10,864 
			 199899 15,214  15,214 
			 19992000 32,115  32,115 
			 200001 49,533 163 49,696 
			 200102 39,583 1,549 41,177 
		
	
	The figures were taken from the National Health Service Litigation Authorities final accounts and represent the actual amounts billed, not necessarily the amounts that were physically paid and received.

Clinical Negligence

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the net present value of outstanding clinical negligence claims against the NHS in England was in each year since 1995.

David Lammy: holding answer 19 July 2002
	In the National Health Service summarised accounts (England), the National Audit Office includes figures for the provisions for clinical negligence in relation to all current claims and potentially successful claims (which may arise from incidents which have been incurred but not reported). The figures for this for each year were as follows:
	
		
			 Year Provision 000s 
		
		
			 199697 1.3 billion 
			 199798 2.3 billion 
			 199899 3.2 billion 
			 19992000 3.9 billion 
			 200001 4.4 billion

Clinical Negligence

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how deficits in the NHS Litigation Authority budget for clinical negligence compensation are financed; and how surpluses are disposed of.

David Lammy: holding answer 19 July 2002
	The NHS Litigation Authority does not account on an income and expenditure basis so does not have surpluses and deficits. It is controlled on its overall spending, which includes provisions for future liabilities that are met if and when they materialise, from cash financing agreed with Her Majesty's Treasury and voted by Parliament in estimates.

Clinical Negligence

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the Government's White Paper on Clinical Negligence.

David Lammy: holding answer 19 July 2002
	The chief medical officer (CMO) is producing a report for the Government on the options for reform of the system for dealing with clinical negligence. It is expected that this will be presented to Ministers in the course of the summer and will form the basis for published proposals later on this year. Neither Ministers nor CMO have yet to come to final conclusions.

Clinical Negligence

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and how much ex-gratia payments have been paid to NHS patients for NHS clinical negligence in the last (a) five, (b) 10 and (c) 20 years.

David Lammy: holding answer 18 July 2002
	National Health Service bodies make ex-gratia payments in a range of circumstances. Figures for these payments are reflected in individual NHS body's accounts, however, they are not collated centrally.

Clinical Negligence

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he (a) has met and (b) plans to meet consultees to the White Paper on Clinical Negligence Reform.

David Lammy: holding answer 18 July 2002
	I have asked the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) to lead a wide ranging review of options for reforming the way clinical negligence cases are handled. As part of this work, the CMO and the officials assisting him have met with representatives of several of the organisations that responded to our Call for Ideas on clinical negligence reforms. The CMO is now preparing a report with recommendations for reform, which I will be considering over the summer. Once the outcome of this work is published we will consider any further requests for meetings we may receive.

Hearing Aids

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of hearing aids fitted under the NHS is represented by digital aids; and what proportion of hearing aids being fitted as current practice are digital.

Jacqui Smith: Information on the number of analogue aids fitted in the National Health Service is not collected centrally. We do however, know that services purchased 392,000 analogue aids from the NHS logistics authority in 200102. (These figures are exclusive of any purchases outside of NHS purchasing and supply agency contracts). By comparison, approximately 37,000 digital aids were purchased in 200102 by those involved in the modernising hearing aid services project that year with approx 28,000 being fitted as part of that project.

Health Funding

Virginia Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the per capita health funding is in (a) Surrey and (b) Durham for the 200203 financial year.

John Hutton: In the 200203 allocations, West Surrey Health Authority received 839 per weighted head of population (745 per unweighted head) and County Durham Health Authority received 804 per weighted head (884 per unweighted head).

Hospital Acquired Infections

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many older people whose discharge from hospital was delayed have acquired a healthcare-associated infection while waiting to be discharged in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many emergency readmissions associated with health care acquired infections there were in each of the last six years; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The data requested are not routinely collected. However, we are committed to tackling healthcare associated infections and as part of implementing Getting Ahead of the Curve, our strategy for combating infectious diseases, we are developing targeted action plans for healthcare associated infections and antimicrobial resistance.

Hospital Acquired Infections

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital trusts closed (a) wards and (b) operating facilities in the last 12 months due to hospital acquired infections.

David Lammy: holding answer 18 July 2002
	The data requested are not routinely collected. Tackling hospital acquired infection (HAI) underpins the priorities in the NHS Plan and a number of initiatives are underway to reduce HAI.

Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Health Authority

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many social workers there were per 1,000 population in (a) the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Health Authority, (b) Hampshire and (c) the South East in each year since 1996; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: Information on the number of social workers per 1,000 population is not available by health authority, only by local authority. The table below shows the whole-time equivalent number of social work staff (including care managers) per 1,000 population as at 30 September in each year between 1996 and 2001 for Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and the south east region.
	
		
			 Social work staff(79) (whole-time equivalent) per 1,000 population 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001(80) 
		
		
			 Hampshire (old) 0.5 .. .. .. .. .. 
			 Hampshire (remaining) .. 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.5 
			 Isle Of Wight Unitary Authority 0.6 0.7 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.8 
			 Portsmouth Unitary Authority .. 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.9 
			 South East 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 
		
	
	.. = not applicable due to local government reorganisation.
	(79) Includes care managers.
	(80) 2,000 population figures used as these are the latest available.
	Sources:
	Form SSDS001, annual return of local authority social services departments staff and Office for National Statistics population figures.

Alzheimer's Disease

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will take measures to ensure that a higher proportion of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease receive Reminyl;
	(2)  if he will take measures to increase the number of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease receiving treatment;
	(3)  how many people within each health authority are suffering from mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease; how many and what percentage of these are being treated; and how many and what percentage of patients are receiving Reminyl.

Jacqui Smith: A 1998 medical research council cognitive function and ageing study found that about 600,000 people in the UK have dementia and that up to 60 per cent. of dementia cases are Alzheimer's. Information about the numbers of people within each health authority with Alzheimer's, and about the type of treatment they are receiving, is not routinely collected.
	Reminyl and other anti-dementia drugs like Aricept and Exelon are available to people with Alzheimer's since NICE recommended their availability in January 2001.
	The national service framework (NSF) for older people aims to promote good mental health in older people and to treat and support people with dementia including those with mild to moderate Alzheimer's. Implementation of the NSF will ensure that people with Alzheimer's disease will receive the care and treatment they need.

Care Costs

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the sum to be transferred from local authority budgets to the NHS to cover the nursing contribution payments from 1 April 2003.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 22 July 2002
	We are still considering the amount that should be transferred from local authority budgets to the National Health Service to cover the nursing contribution payments in respect of local council supported clients from 1 April 2003. We expect to go out for consultation about that amount shortly.

Care Costs

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the recently published report of the Rowntree Trust into the economics of the care home sector.

John Hutton: holding answer 22 July 2002
	My officials are considering the report by the Joseph Rowntree Trust. We welcome its contribution to the debate about the appropriate level of care home fees. We support any research that that helps councils to set fair and realistic fee levels.
	The Government increased resources for social services by 20 per cent. in real terms between 199697 and 20023. This represents an average real terms increase of 3 per cent. per annum. In addition, funding will increase by 6 per cent. per year in real terms in each of the next three years. There is evidence that this extra investment is making a difference. Laing and Buisson, the authors of the Joseph Rowntree Trust report, reported last month that most councils have increased their care home fees by at least 3 per cent. in 200203 and that almost a third have agreed increases of at least 10 per cent. since last year.

Care Costs

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the final free nursing care contribution evaluation report was received by his Department.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 22 July 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) of 2 July, Official Report 2002, column 309W. A report has not been received by the Department and will not be received until later this year.

Carers

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 3 July 2002, Official Report, column 449W, on carers, what steps his Department has taken to encourage general practitioners to detail in patient records whether a patient is also a carer.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 22 July 2002
	The Department is funding a three-year project by Carers UK to disseminate good practice in National Health Service support for carers including identification of carers by general practitioners in patient records. In addition, the existence of the carers field in general practitioner (GP) computer systems was highlighted in the March edition of the Department's bulletin to GPs.

Care Homes (Questionnaire)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 15 July 2002, on care homes ref. 68876, if he will place a copy of the questionnaire in the Library.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 22 July 2002
	The national care standards commission (NCSC) is consulting service users and representative organisations as part of its inspection process.
	The postcard questionnaire is one of the range of tools being used by the NCSC to gather information from service users on their perception of the care they receive. I have asked the commission to send a copy of this particular questionnaire to the hon. Member. Use of the cards to provide feedback to the Commission is, of course, entirely voluntary.

Care Homes

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many local authority (a) residential homes, (b) nursing homes and (c) dual registered homes have been voluntarily deregistered in each (i) local authority and (ii) region in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 26 March 2002
	The information centrally available on establishment closures will be placed in the Library. It is not possible to distinguish voluntary deregistrations from these statistics.

Care Homes

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many single bed care homes there are in (a) England and (b) each local authority.

Jacqui Smith: Information on the number of care homes with only one bed is not collected centrally.

Care Homes

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the availability of qualified staff before implementing Regulation 19(5)(b) in respect of care homes.

Jacqui Smith: Regulation 19(5)(b) requires that care home staff have qualifications suitable to the work they are to perform, and the skills and experience necessary for such work. The regulation does not specify the types and levels of qualifications which may be required, this depend on the type of care home and the needs of the residents. The regulations were extensively consulted on and the Department has no evidence to suggest that large numbers of care homes will be unable to meet this requirement.
	To support training, a new fundthe training strategy implementation fundwas set up in April 2001. It is available to all social care employerswhether they are in the voluntary, private or statutory sectors. There was 2 million in this fund for 200102 and this has been used to support and embed induction standards in the social care field. The amount available within this fund has increased to 15 million for 200203. On 23 July this year my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health announced that the national training strategy implementation fund will rise to 70 million by 2006.

Foster Care

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 18 July 2002, Official Report, column 540W, how much his Department has spent on recruitment campaigns to encourage people to become involved as foster carers since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: Since 1997 the Department has spent 2 million to fund a national foster carer campaign, which was launched in July 2000. The campaign focused on addressing the national shortage of foster carers in England.
	Additionally, this Department is currently funding fostering network, a voluntary organisation through the section 64 general scheme grant. The three-year project called placement choice for children aims to work with local authorities on effective foster care recruitment. The three year project which began in 1999 has been funded for 90,000 per year.

Foster Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what change there has been in the number of children being placed in foster care over the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 22 July 2002
	The table shows the number of looked after children in foster placements over the past 5 years.
	
		Number of looked after children in foster placements at 31 March 19972001 -- EnglandNumbers
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Total number of children looked after 51,200 53,300 55,500 58,100 58,900 
			 Of which, total in foster placements 33,500 35,000 36,200 37,900 38,400 
		
	
	Excludes placements forming part of an agreed series of short term placements.

Information Campaigns

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on information literature, advertising and campaign material in financial year 200102; if he will list the campaigns that spent over 250,000; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: holding answer 22 July 2002
	The Department spent 27.872 million on information literature, advertising and campaign material in financial year 200102.
	Campaigns, which had an expenditure of over 250,000 during 200102, are listed as follows:
	Child Immunisation
	Flu Immunisation
	National Health Service including nurse recruitment
	NHS Direct
	Sexwise/teenage pregnancy
	Sexual Health
	Social Work recruitment
	Tobacco Education
	TB Awareness

Drugs (Import Restrictions)

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what proportion of drugs used in (a) the hospital service and (b) the community through the NHS are the subject of parallel importation from other European member states; what assessment he has made of the effect on the NHS of national quotas imposed by multinational drug companies to impede such activity; and if he will make a statement.
	(2)  what representations he has made to the European Commission in respect of the decision by Eli Lilly to impose a quota system in the supply of the drug Zyprexa in other European Union member states;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the impact on the price of the drug Zyprexa to the NHS of the restriction of imports of the drug from other European member countries.

David Lammy: holding answer 22 July 2002
	Full information on the proportion of parallel imported medicines used by the National Health Service is not available but it is estimated that parallel imports into the United Kingdom are 13 per cent. of total sales. Parallel imported products represent approximately 11 per cent. of NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency pharmaceutical contracts for secondary care. No assessment has been made on the effect on the NHS of national quotas imposed by pharmaceutical companies.
	The European Community Commission is already looking at quota policies to determine whether they are compatible with European Union competition law. We have neither received nor made representations in respect of the decision by Eli Lilly to impose a quota system in the supply of the drug Zyprexa in other EU member states.
	The NHS reimbursement price of Zyprexa is unchanged.

Hague Convention on Inter-Country Adoptions

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the United Kingdom Government will be in a position to ratify the Hague Convention on inter-country adoptions.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 22 July 2002
	The Government remain fully committed to ratifying the Hague Convention. All countries within the United Kingdom are working hard to ensure that the UK as a whole will be able to ratify the Convention as soon as possible. The Department has already consulted on draft regulations for England and Wales, and we are currently working on final regulations, taking account of the consultation responses that we received. Once final regulations have been made and laid in each of the respective parliaments, notice will be given to The Hague that the UK wishes to ratify in accordance with Article 46 of the Convention. The Convention will come into force three months after formal notification has been given. We anticipate that this will be at the beginning of next year.

NHS Bank

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the management of the NHS Bank will be franchised to the private sector.

Alan Milburn: holding answer 22 July 2002
	The future management arrangements for NHS Bank have yet to be determined.

NHS Bank

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the activities of the NHS Bank since 15 May.

Alan Milburn: holding answer 22 July 2002
	The NHS Bank has been established and is operating in shadow form. This year the Bank is offering grants and loans to National Health Service organisations, with a direct link to helping NHS organisations to deliver the NHS Plan.

NHS Bank

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money has been lent by the NHS Bank since it commenced operation on 15 May.

Alan Milburn: holding answer 22 July 2002
	The shadow NHS Bank has been established with an allocation of 100 million. The distribution between grants and loans has yet to be determined.

NHS Bank

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what interest rate will be charged on amounts borrowed from the NHS Bank.

Alan Milburn: holding answer 22 July 2002 2002
	The future basis and terms for loans from the NHS Bank have yet to be determined.

NHS Bank

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the NHS Bank will be accountable to Parliament.

Alan Milburn: holding answer 22 July 2002
	The NHS Bank will be accountable to Parliament through the Secretary of State for Health.

NHS Bank

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether trusts investing surplus cash with the NHS Bank will earn interest on new deposits.

Alan Milburn: holding answer 22 July 2002
	The future basis and terms for any deposits with NHS Bank have yet to be determined.

NHS Bank

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what targets have been set for the NHS Bank.

Alan Milburn: holding answer 22 July 2002
	The shadow NHS Bank's initial remit is to manage the 100 million allocation it has been given.

NHS Bank

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the NHS Bank will be accountable to the Chancellor of the Exchequer through public service agreements.

Alan Milburn: holding answer 22 July 2002
	No. The NHS Bank will be accountable to the Secretary of State for Health.

NHS Bank

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much cash has been deposited with the NHS Bank by trusts.

Alan Milburn: holding answer 22 July 2002
	None.

NHS Bank

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the expected composition of the board of the NHS Bank.

Alan Milburn: holding answer 22 July 2002
	The shadow NHS Bank is being overseen by four strategic health authority chief executives and the Department's director of finance and investment.
	The future arrangements are under consideration.

NHS Bank

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Office for National Statistics on the accounting treatment of the borrowings of the NHS Bank.

Alan Milburn: holding answer 22 July 2002
	None.

NHS Bank

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health over what period repayments of money borrowed from the NHS Bank will be made.

Alan Milburn: holding answer 22 July 2002
	The future basis and terms for any loans from the NHS Bank have yet to be determined.

NHS Bank

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the NHS Bank will have the authority to borrow from sources other than the Government.

Alan Milburn: holding answer 22 July 2002
	The shadow NHS Bank does not currently have the power to borrow from non-Government sources.
	The future arrangements are under consideration

NHS Bank

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who will determine the criteria to be met by successful applicants for loans from the NHS Bank; and what those criteria will be.

Alan Milburn: holding answer 22 July 2002
	An application to the shadow NHS Bank will only be permitted where:
	(i) the application has been validated by the relevant director of health and social care;
	(ii) the applicant can demonstrate that all other options including local support arrangements have been fully considered;
	(iii) there is commitment by the strategic health authority to deliver performance targets in 200203;
	(iv) the problem to be addressed is of a scale and nature that is fundamentally different from those faced by other health organisations;
	(v) there is a clear, realistic and deliverable plan for resolution of the problem that has led to the need for support;
	(vi) the relevant chief executive(s) within the health economy personally commit to and are willing to be held accountable for delivery against agreed milestones;
	(vii) there is support for the plans from the respective National Health Service trust and primary care trusts boards and a clear endorsement by clinicians; and
	(viii) the directorate of health social care and any person nominated by the shadow NHS Bank are given full open book access to the applicant organisation(s).

NHS Bank

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is expected that the Government will deposit further sums at the NHS Bank.

Alan Milburn: holding answer 22 July
	The disposition of overall resources for 200304 onwards has yet to be determined.

Epilepsy

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans there are to increase the number of neurologists and paediatric neurologists with a specialism in epilepsy;
	(2)  how many neurologists and paediatric neurologists with a specialism in epilepsy there are in the UK.

John Hutton: I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Falmouth and Camborne (Ms Atherton) today.

Epilepsy

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to promote epilepsy specialist nurses.

Jacqui Smith: We set targets in the NHS Plan to increase the number of nurses working in the health service. Figures released earlier this year show that between September 1999 and September 2001 recruitment of nurses rose by 20,740. We set new targets in the 2002 budget to recruit 35,000 nurses by 2008 and this will become part of the continuing drive to recruit more health professionals for the National Health Service.
	We recognise the important role that epilepsy nurse specialists play in the treatment and management of people with epilepsy. It is the responsibility of primary care trusts to determine the number of epilepsy nurse specialists required to support the development of epilepsy services within the overall increase in nursing capacity.

Epilepsy

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what consideration the Government have given to the finding of the national audit of epilepsy-related death relating to deficiencies in the implementation of existing NICE guidelines; and what plans he has to ensure the implementation of the guideline due in 2004;
	(2)  what plans are in place to ensure that primary care trusts will act on the NICE recommendation that local NHS clinicians and organisations should establish or review policies of practices regarding the management of epilepsy.

Jacqui Smith: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) published a summary report of the national sentinel audit of epilepsy related death in May 2002. The publication draws the attention of local National Health Service clinicians and organisations to the need to establish or review policies and practices regarding the management of epilepsy and epilepsy related deaths.
	Additionally NICE is developing a clinical guideline for the diagnosis, management and treatment of epilepsy to help address widespread variations in clinical practice and contribute to the improvement of epilepsy services. The guideline is due to be completed in Summer 2004. It will be supported by a technology appraisal of the clinical and cost effectiveness of new anti-epileptic drugs in children and adults, to help promote appropriate uptake and equitable access. The appraisal is due to be completed in Autumn 2003.

Epilepsy

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps are being taken to inform those with epilepsy of the risks of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy and ways of reducing risk;
	(2)  what plans he has to address the information and support needs for bereaved families affected by (a) SUDEP and (b) other epilepsy deaths;
	(3)  what measures are (a) in place and (b) planned to ensure that clinical assessments for epilepsy are performed to a satisfactory standard, including the accurate recording of seizure types, seizure triggers and seizure frequency;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the information and training needs of (a) people with epilepsy and (b) their carers;
	(5)  what plans he has to address the finding in the epilepsy deaths report on the adequacy of post-mortem investigations;
	(6)  what plans the Government have for implementation and funding of the action plan to address epilepsy-related death;
	(7)  what plans he has to ensure that people with epilepsy receive six-monthly check-ups with their GP or an epilepsy specialist to review their medication;
	(8)  what further initiatives the Government will take to improve levels of epilepsy care across the country;
	(9)  what steps are being taken to set a national target for reduction of epilepsy deaths;
	(10)  what plans he has to increase the availability of information for health professionals surrounding the issue of drug management for epilepsy medication;
	(11)  what plans he has for the involvement of health professionals and the voluntary sector in the implementation of the Action Plan to address epilepsy-related death;
	(12)  what plans he has to improve public awareness of epilepsy;
	(13)  whether the Home Office is being consulted on the Action Plan to address the finding in the national audit of epilepsy-related death on the adequacy of post-mortem investigations;
	(14)  what plans he has to improve the awareness of GPs and health professionals of epilepsy and epilepsy-related death.

Jacqui Smith: In May 2002, we welcomed the publication of the government funded national sentinel audit of epilepsy-related death. The audit looked at investigations into epilepsy deaths, care provided prior to death and contact with bereaved families. We have given a commitment to consider in full the recommendations of the audit including the issues raised by the hon. Member and to develop an action plan later this year to address the key issues. It will need to take account of and feed into a range of other initiatives including the national service framework (NSF) for long term conditions, which will have a focus on neurological conditions such as epilepsy. We expect to meet with the epilepsy voluntary organisations shortly, and will consult with others as appropriate.
	The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) published a summary report of the audit. The publication draws the attention of local National Health Service clinicians and organisations to the need to establish or review policies and practices regarding the management of epilepsy and epilepsy related deaths.
	The department is also undertaking a range of other initiatives to improve services for the care and management of people with epilepsy. For example, we have:
	Asked NICE to develop a clinical guideline, due in summer 2004, for the diagnosis, management and treatment of epilepsy to help address widespread variations in clinical practice and contribute to the improvement of services. This will be supported by a technology appraisal, due autumn 2003, of the clinical and cost effectiveness of new anti-epileptic drugs in children and adults, to help promote appropriate uptake and equitable access.
	Announced that the NSF for long term conditions is expected to develop standards of care for specific neurological conditions, including epilepsy. The NSF is expected to be published in 2004. Implementation is expected to start from 2005.
	Developed the expert patients programme, which aims to provide training in self-management skills for people with long term chronic conditions. The first pilot phase will include people with epilepsy.
	Provided funding to the joint epilepsy council to develop a National Statement of Good Practice for the Treatment and Care of People who have Epilepsy, which was published in May 2002. The statement makes a series of recommendations for good quality epilepsy services. It is intended to facilitate commissioning and will be of use to NHS purchasers, providers and service users.
	Provided funding to the national society for epilepsy for its living well project. The project aims to promote independent living by providing locally based short-term courses for people with epilepsy to develop self-help and self-management techniques.
	Local health and social care organisations are responsible for planning and providing services for people with epilepsy, including the frequency of contact. The recently announced Budget settlements for the NHS, which represents an annual average increase of 7.5 per cent. above inflation over the five years 200304 to 200708, and personal social services, which represents an annual average increase of 6.0 per cent. above inflation over the three years 200304 to 200506, will provide the investment needed to support the services which best meet patients' and users' needs.

Health and Social Care Inspectorates

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much it will cost to set up and run the new merged Health and Social Care Inspectorates; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: Estimates of the cost of establishing the new health inspectorate will be made in preparing the required legislation, which will be introduced as soon as Parliamentary time allows.

Homelessness

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 27 June 2002, Official Report, column 1075W, on homeless people, what the reasons were for the delay in answering the Question.

Hazel Blears: We place a high priority on our obligation to ensure that Members receive a timely, accurate and helpful response to their questions, and make every effort to ensure that the live load of questions still awaiting a reply is kept to a minimum at all times. In this instance, the cross-cutting nature of the question led to a regrettable delay in preparing a response, for which I apologise to the hon. Member.

Social Services

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his assessment is of the effects of the changes to the calculation of personal social services block formula grant in 19992000 on the performance of social services authorities.

Jacqui Smith: Personal social services (PSS) funding is distributed using information about the social care needs of each area, including demographic, physical and social characteristics. The changes to the PSS standard spending assessment formulae in 19992000 were made to better reflect those needs. All councils with social services responsibilities have benefited from the increased funding the Government has provided for social care, through the block formula grant, since we came to office. This increased funding has generally enabled councils to provide improved services for their clients.

Local Consultations

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information and guidance he issues to members of the public on becoming involved in local consultations on the provision of health care and social services; and what plans he has to develop this.

David Lammy: holding answer 23 July 2002
	Currently, it is the legal responsibility of community health councils (working with their local National Health Service organisation/s) to ensure the public view is represented in decisions about local health care provision.
	When the new system for patient and public involvement is established, the staff employed by new commission for patient and public involvement in health (CPPIH), based with primary care trust patients' forums will be locally responsible for promoting local consultations and involvement activity to involve local people in healthcare decision making with statutory organisations.
	One of the ways the CPPIH may carry out its functions is by providing guidance for members of the public who would like to get involved. This will be a matter for the CPPIH.
	Patients' Forums will also be established for every NHS trust and PCT, they too will provide a mechanism for local peoples' views to be heard. In addition community and voluntary organisations, working through the Local Compact, will be another pathway for local people to be involved and consulted in decisions about local healthcare.

Clinical Guidelines

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each UK region, the cost to the NHS of implementing each of the clinical guidelines set down by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence in each year since 2000 for which figures are available.

David Lammy: holding answer 23 July 2002
	We do not hold this information centrally. The Final Appraisal Determinations published by the Institute do, however, now include estimates of the aggregate national cost of implementing its recommendations.

London Ambulance Service

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the introduction of stab and bullet-proof vests to London Ambulance Service staff will cost; and to what extent this will (a) come from the London Ambulance Service current budget and (b) be met by extra central Government funding.

David Lammy: holding answer 18 July 2002
	The contract for the provision of body armour for crews in the London Ambulance Service is currently out to tender. This process is expected to be complete in October, when a definitive cost will be available. The cost will be met within existing budgets, as part of the London Ambulance Service's four-year improvement programme.

Ambulances

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the latest available figures for ambulance response times to category A calls, listed by ambulance trust, stating (a) what proportion of responses were achieved within eight minutes and (b) for those responses which took longer than eight minutes, how long it took for the ambulance to respond.

David Lammy: holding answer 10 July 2002
	The latest information about the proportion of emergency calls resulting in an ambulance arriving at the scene of the reported incident within the Government's target response times is contained in the Department of Health Statistical Bulletin Ambulance Services, England 200102. A copy of the bulletin is in the Library and available at www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0213.htm.

Ambulances

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the accuracy of data collected on ambulance response times;
	(2)  what monitoring is undertaken to ensure the quality of ambulance response time statistics.

David Lammy: The Department has no evidence that data on ambulance response times is inaccurate.
	All ambulance services and their performance are subject to audit by those commissioning their services and by the Audit Commission.

NHS Pension Schemes

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the proportion of the rise in Government liabilities resulting from unfunded NHS pension schemes in England and Wales in the last five years due to (a) wage inflation, (b) longevity, (c) extension of the rights of part-time workers and (d) other factors; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The Government Actuary's Department has estimated the accrued liabilities of the National Health Service Pension Scheme for England and Wales at 31 March 2001 to be 75 billion and at 31 March 1994 to be 50 billion.
	A breakdown of the rise in liabilities is not readily available in the form requested. However, the Government Actuary's Department believe that the most important factor in the increase was pay growth, followed by allowances made for increasing pensioner longevity and price inflation. The increase in liabilities caused by the extension of the rights of part-time workers is not thought to be as material as these other factors.

General Practice Surgeries

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of routine appointment wait times in (a) Twickenham and (b) the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames at general practice surgeries; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: Reducing the routine wait times for appointments in primary care is a government priority. By the end of March 2004, all patients will be able to see a primary care professional within 24 hours and a general practitioner within 48 hours.
	Results for the Q4 service and financial framework return (SaFFR) primary care access survey are shown below.
	
		Percentage of practices with an appointment system offering an appointment within 2 working days to see a GP
		
			  
		
		
			 Richmond Primary Care Trust 94 
			 Teddington, Twickenham and Hamptons Primary Care Trust 100 
		
	
	
		Percentage of practices with an appointment system offering an appointment within 1 working days to see a PCP
		
			  
		
		
			 Richmond PCT 93 
			 Teddington, Twickenham and Hamptons PCT 75 
			 England 59

Redwood Hospital

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in negotiations with BUPA to create a diagnostic and treatment centre at the Redwood Hospital.

Hazel Blears: The National Health Service and BUPA have agreed commercial terms and are now going through a process of consultation with medical and other staff who will be affected by the diagnosis and treatment centre. An announcement will be made once this process has been completed and an agreement signed.
	Consultation is essential not just in terms of good practice but to agree the medical manpower plan with consultants. This will not delay the opening of the centre.

Specialisms

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) neurologists, (b) paediatric neurologists and (c) nurses with a specialism there are in the UK.

John Hutton: The Department's workforce censuses do not collect information on the number of neurologists, paediatric neurologists or nurses with a specialism in the treatment of epilepsy.
	The numbers of doctors working in paediatric neurology is not collected centrally, it is a sub-specialty of neurology. As at 31 March 2002, the numbers of consultants working in neurology was 372. This is an increase of 34 per cent. since 1997.
	We are investing in extra training places in neurology and have agreed an increase of up to fifteen specialist registrars in neurology for 200204. The Department's current workforce projections suggest that by 2004, there may be around an additional 80 trained specialists available to take up consultant posts in neurology, over a 2000 baseline of 326.
	We continually review future requirements for trained specialists as part of the National Health Service's new multi-disciplinary workforce planning processes. These look at the requirements for doctors alongside other staff focusing on the potential for new ways of working and developing new roles.
	The long term conditions care group workforce team covers the national service frameworks for diabetes, renal and long term conditions, including neurological conditions. The care group workforce team is working to address not only the need for increased numbers of staff but also for new ways of working, including skill mix, role extensions and multi-disciplinary working, based around patient needs. It has already fed in to national planning processes recommendations on the future supply of professionals and development of new ways of working.

Hospital Trust Boards

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what rules govern the appointment of vice-chairs for hospital trust boards.

David Lammy: The rules are set out in regulations (13) and (14) of the National Health Service Trusts (Membership and Procedure) Regulations 1990 (SI No. 2024). Chairs and non-executives board members of trusts are appointed by the National Health Service appointments commission. However, vice chairs are appointed from amongst the non-executives by all the other directors of the trust.

Inpatient Waiting Times

Virginia Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what percentage of patients waiting for inpatient treatment have been waiting over one year;
	(2)  which 10 health authorities have the highest percentage of patients waiting for more than one year for inpatient treament; and which health authorities have no patients waiting more than nine months for inpatient treatment;
	(3)  if he will list, in rank order of health authority, the proportion of patients waiting a year or more for in-patient treatment (a) at the latest available date and (b) 12 months ago.

John Hutton: Two per cent. of patients were waiting over one year for elective admission at 31 March 2002. This is the latest available data on a health authority basis.
	The table shows the equivalent figures at health authority level ranked in descending order for both March 2001 and March 2002. The table includes the ten health authorities that have the highest percentage of patients waiting more than one year for elective admission.
	All health authorities have patients waiting more than nine months as at March 2002.
	
		Percentage of patients waiting over 1 year for elective admission: Health Authorities England
		
			 Percentage of patients waiting over 1 year 
			 Health Authority March 2001 March 2002 
		
		
			 South and West Devon HA 6 5 
			 Avon HA 7 5 
			 East Kent HA 6 5 
			 North Cheshire HA 9 5 
			 East Surrey HA 10 5 
			 Northamptonshire HA 5 4 
			 Bromley HA 5 4 
			 Redbridge and Waltham Forest HA 8 4 
			 West Sussex HA 10 4 
			 Wiltshire HA 6 4 
			 West Surrey HA 10 4 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly HA 6 4 
			 Stockport HA 3 4 
			 Barking and Havering HA 5 4 
			 East Sussex Brighton and Hove HA 6 4 
			 Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham HA 9 4 
			
			 Croydon HA 10 4 
			 Barnet HA 4 4 
			 Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth HA 6 3 
			 Buckinghamshire HA 5 3 
			 North and Mid Hampshire HA 5 3 
			 Worcestershire HA 4 3 
			 Bedfordshire HA 7 3 
			 Norfolk HA 5 3 
			 Hertfordshire HA . 3 
			 Salford and Trafford HA 6 3 
			 Suffolk HA 4 3 
			 Isle of Wight HA 6 3 
			 Southampton and SW Hampshire HA 8 3 
			 West Kent HA 7 3 
			 Kingston and Richmond HA 5 3 
			 Manchester HA 7 3 
			 Somerset HA 2 3 
			 East Riding and Hull HA 1 3 
			 North Essex HA 6 2 
			 East London and City HA 4 2 
			 Berkshire HA 3 2 
			 Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow HA 5 2 
			 South Cheshire HA 4 2 
			 Cambridgeshire HA 4 2 
			 Hillingdon HA 5 2 
			 East Lancashire HA 1 2 
			 Liverpool HA 4 2 
			 Brent and Harrow HA 5 2 
			 St Helens and Knowsley HA 4 2 
			 Wigan and Bolton HA 3 2 
			 Camden and Islington HA 4 2 
			 North West Lancashire HA 1 1 
			 Sefton HA 5 1 
			 Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster HA 2 1 
			 Morecambe Bay HA 2 1 
			 Coventry HA 1 1 
			 Gloucestershire HA 1 1 
			 Bury and Rochdale HA 2 1 
			 South Essex HA 3 1 
			 South Lancashire HA 4 1 
			 Wirral HA 3 1 
			 Oxfordshire HA 4 1 
			 West Pennine HA 2 1 
			 North and East Devon HA 6 1 
			 Lincolnshire HA 4 1 
			 Solihull HA 0 0 
			 Sheffield HA 1 0 
			 Warwickshire HA 1 0 
			 Nottingham HA 1 0 
			 North Nottinghamshire HA 1 0 
			 North Derbyshire HA 0 0 
			 South Humber HA 0 0 
			 Calderdale and Kirklees HA 0 0 
			 Shropshire HA 4 0 
			 Leeds HA 1 0 
			 Rotherham HA 0 0 
			 Herefordshire HA 4 0 
			 North Yorkshire HA 0 0 
			 Southern Derbyshire HA 1 0 
			 Barnsley HA 0 0 
			 Dorset HA 0 0 
			 South Staffordshire HA 5 0 
			 Bradford HA 0 0 
			 Leicestershire HA 2 0 
			 North Staffordshire HA 5 0 
			 Doncaster HA 0 0 
			 Wakefield HA 2 0 
			 Birmingham HA 1 0 
			 North Cumbria HA 2 0 
			
			 Tees HA 0 0 
			 County Durham and Darlington HA 0 0 
			 Dudley HA 2 0 
			 Gateshead and South Tyneside HA 0 0 
			 Newcastle and North Tyneside HA 1 0 
			 Northumberland HA 1 0 
			 Sandwell HA 1 0 
			 Sunderland HA 0 0 
			 Walsall HA 1 0 
			 Wolverhampton HA 1 0 
			 Bexley and Greenwich HA 6 . 
			 EandN Hertfordshire HA 6 . 
			 Enfield and Haringey HA 7 . 
			 Portsmouth and SE Hampshire HA 6 . 
			 West Hertfordshire HA 7 . 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health form QF01.
	Note:
	. denotes not applicable.

Patient Environment Action Teams

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many visits have been made by patient environment action teams since their inception; which hospital trusts have been visited; and what improvements have been registered by hospital trusts visited by patient environment action teams.

David Lammy: holding answer 18 July 2002
	Since publication of the NHS Plan, patient environment action teams (PEATs) teams have undertaken four rounds of assessment visits to acute National Health Service trusts. The first was made in Autumn 2000 to spot check the quality of the patient environment, validate the trusts' action plans, and identify what work still needed to be done to raise standards. Subsequent visits were made during Spring and Autumn 2001 and Spring 2002, to assess improvements made and to determine whether trusts had been successful in bringing standards up to a higher level.
	PEAT visits have largely concentrated on the acute sector and assessments have taken place at all of the acute trusts; some of the larger mental health units have also been assessed. To date a total of 1,289 unannounced inspections have been carried out. Details of all the trusts' including examples of advancements in improvements made, can be found in The NHS PlanClean Hospitals report which can be located on the clean hospitals web site at www.cleanhospitals.com
	The clean hospitals' programme has been a clear success and has had a significant impact on standards of cleanliness, decoration and supporting services. Patient areas, visitors' toilets, outpatients and accident and emergency units have been thoroughly cleaned and maintained. Many have been refurbished and redecorated. Trusts have increased resources devoted to maintaining standards of cleanlinesssome have employed additional cleaning staff, others have increased the frequency with which their hospitals are cleaned. There are now no hospitals in England where cleaning standards are found to be less than acceptable.

Acute Wards

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the bed occupancy rate in acute wards in (a) England, (b) each region and (c) each NHS trust was in each of the last six years, including the most recent year for which figures are available.

John Hutton: Information on the average occupancy rate for beds in acute wards in each National Health Service trust, NHS region and England from 199697 to 200001 is available from the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity199697 is the first year information on occupied beds was collected.

Surrey and Sussex Health Authority

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken by the Surrey and Sussex Health Authority to avoid manipulation of the waiting lists at hospitals in its area.

Hazel Blears: Surrey and Sussex Health Authority has introduced a number of procedures to review waiting list data on a weekly, monthly and quarterly basis; on both Trust and population basis.
	The health authority will be working closely with all health organisations in its area to ensure they are fully supported in achieving performance targets.

Surrey and Sussex Health Authority

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what process is available to inform doctors and patients as to the state of the waiting lists for (a) neurophysiology and (b) MRI scanning in the Surrey and Sussex Health Authority area;
	(2)  what his Department's policy is on the Association of British Neurologists' recommendation that there should be more full-time neurologists per 100,000 of population in (a) the Surrey and Sussex Health Authority area and (b) the rest of England;
	(3)  how many full-time neurologists there are per 100,000 of population in (a) the Surrey and Sussex Health Authority area and (b) the rest of England;
	(4)  how many patients in (a) the Surrey and Sussex Health Authority area and (b) the rest of England have not had the treatment to address neurological conditions as recommended by their doctors.

Hazel Blears: Information is not held centrally on the numbers of patients who have not had neurological treatment recommended by their doctors. Surrey and Sussex Health Authority has advised me that waiting times for non-urgent neurophysiology tests are longer at Hurstwood Park Neurological centre than the other service providers in London, although an urgent or priority request is dealt with on the same day or within 12 days depending on clinical priority. Waiting times for magnetic resonance imaging scans are also determined by the urgency of the case. Close links are maintained between local consultants and specialist service providers so information on waiting times is readily available, allowing patients to be kept informed of the expected waiting time for their treatment.
	Information held centrally on the number of Neurologists per 100,000 population is as follows:
	
		Hospital medical consultants, working full time within the neurology specialty
		
			 As at 30 September 2001 Numbers 
		
		
			Numbers per 
			   numbers 100,000 
			 population 
			 England  230 0.5 
			 of which
			  Surrey and Sussex(81) 10 0.4 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health 2001 medical and dental workforce census.
	Note:
	(81) Includes East Surrey HA, West Surrey HA, East Sussex, Brighton and Hove HA, West Sussex HA.
	The Department fully supports the need for an increase in the number of neurologists. Indeed, recommendations by the medical workforce review team are for the numbers of consultants in Neurology to grow by some 50 per cent. by 2010, from 326 in 2001 to 496 in 2010.
	Workforce has been recognised as key to the successful delivery of the NHS Plan and the national service frameworks. New national workforce planning and development structures have been set up to help deliver a multidisciplinary and integrated health and social care workforce to support service improvement.

Failing Hospitals

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will make a statement regarding how the Government will assess whether a hospital is failing;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on how quickly the management changes in failing hospitals will occur;
	(3)  if he will make a statement regarding the Government's plan to change the management of failing hospitals, with specific reference to having a common pay scale;
	(4)  if he will make a statement on how extensive the management changes in failing hospitals will be.

David Lammy: The performance of hospital trusts is publicly assessed through a star rating system based on an organisation's performance against a range of national targets and indicators. Clinical governance reviews by the Commission for Health Improvement are also used to determine the star ratings. The poorest performing hospital trusts receive no stars.
	Following publication of National Health Service performance ratings in September 2001, all zero star NHS trusts were given three months to provide detailed action plans highlighting how performance would be improved. Support has been provided by the Department and the NHS Modernisation Agency.
	Franchise arrangements for new senior management has been initiated in six trusts to ensure delivery of the sustainable improvement necessary. This has led to the appointment of five new chief executives, with the outcome of the process still pending in the sixth.
	Trust chief executives are appointed and employed by NHS trust chairman and non-executives on behalf of the trust. The pay of the new chief executive is a matter for the trust and will be commensurate with the size and complexity of the management role.
	Applications for future franchises will be invited from individuals and organisations from within and outside the NHS. These will last for a fixed time period. The franchises will include the replacement of the chief executive and could include other senior management roles if deemed necessary.

Special Hospitals

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many places there were in the special hospitals at (a) Ashworth, (b) Broadmoor and (c) Rampton at the latest date for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 9 July 2002
	Service level agreements between the high security hospitals and the regional commissioners of their services provide for the following bed numbers for 200203:
	Ashworth Hospital : 436 beds.
	Broadmoor Hospital : 404 beds.
	Rampton Hospital : 437 beds.

Hospital Safety

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what powers exist to enable NHS hospital staff to require co-operation from patients and visitors in complying with reasonable Health and Safety requests in order to protect the safety of people on NHS hospital sites.

David Lammy: Health and Safety is a major issue for the National Health Service, and one that is taken very seriously. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1972 all employers, including NHS organisations, must ensure as far as is reasonably practicable, that people not employed by them but affected by their undertaking (such as patients and visitors) are not exposed to health and safety risks.
	Whilst there is no legal requirement for people to co-operate, patients and visitors have a responsibility to behave in a manner that does not put others at risk, and to respond to staff's requests and hospital regulations for the protection of themselves and others. Where a patient or visitor is observed to be acting in an unsafe manner, measures to minimise the risk must be undertaken by the NHS trust.
	Over the next few months primary care trusts will receive guidance on developing a new contract on rights and responsibilities at a local level. The contract will be negotiated through consultation with their communities, and will cover access to and appropriate use of both primary and secondary care services.

Intermediate Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from health care providers on the use of intermediate care money to (a) reopen previously closed wards and (b) rebrand existing care beds as intermediate care beds.

Jacqui Smith: I am not aware of any representations.
	Some of the growth in intermediate care beds has been achieved by bringing dormant capacity back into usein some cases by reopening closed wardsor by changing the service provided within care homes. Using spare capacity in this way ensures that services are provided to meet people's needs, and to avoid unnecessary admission to, or inappropriately to delay transfer from, acute beds.

Mental Health

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the percentage occupancy rate was of mental illness beds in (a) England and (b) each region in each of the last six years;
	(2)  what the average daily availability of beds in wards open 24 hours for mental illness was in (a) England and (b) each region in each of the last six years.

Jacqui Smith: Information on the average daily number of available and occupied mental health beds and percentage occupancy rate for England and National Health Service regions from 199697 to 200001 is set out in the table. These figures are also available available on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/ hospitalactivity
	
		Bed occupancy rates, mental illness sector, England and NHS Regions, 199697 to 200001
		
			 Year  Available beds Occupied beds Percentage occupancy 
		
		
			 200001 England 34,214 29,918 87.4 
			 200001 Northern and Yorkshire 4,887 4,163 85.2 
			 200001 Trent 3,754 3,120 83.1 
			 200001 West Midlands 3,191 2,744 86 
			 200001 North West 4,499 3,903 86.7 
			 200001 Eastern 3,471 3,040 87.6 
			 200001 London 6,401 5,926 92.6 
			 200001 South East 4,849 4,333 89.4 
			 200001 South West 3,163 2,689 85 
			 19992000 England 34,173 29,775 87.1 
			 19992000 Northern and Yorkshire 4,985 4,235 85 
			 19992000 Trent 3,592 3,068 85.4 
			 19992000 West Midlands 3,181 2,648 83.2 
			 19992000 North West 4,636 3,949 85.2 
			 19992000 Eastern 3,461 3,074 88.8 
			 19992000 London 6,155 5,768 93.7 
			 19992000 South East 4,938 4,323 87.5 
			 19992000 South West 3,225 2,710 84 
			 199899 England 35,692 31,219 87.5 
			 199899 Northern and Yorkshire 5,120 4,415 86.2 
			 199899 Trent 3,697 3,155 85.3 
			 199899 West Midlands 3,216 2,730 84.9 
			 199899 North West 4,748 4,027 84.8 
			 199899 Eastern 3,510 3,167 90.2 
			 199899 London 7,008 6,459 92.2 
			 199899 South East 5,014 4,411 88 
			 199899 South West 3,378 2,856 84.5 
			 199798 England 36,601 31,647 86.5 
			 199798 Northern and Yorkshire 5,222 4,576 87.6 
			 199798 Trent 3,780 3,257 86.2 
			 199798 West Midlands 3,243 2,750 84.8 
			 199798 North West 5,030 4,170 82.9 
			 199798 Eastern 3,460 3,139 90.7 
			 199798 London 7,300 6,399 87.7 
			 199798 South East 5,160 4,495 87.1 
			 199798 South West 3,406 2,863 84.1 
			 199697 England 37,640 32,718 86.9 
			 199697 Northern and Yorkshire 5,551 4,690 84.5 
			 199697 Trent 3,820 3,329 87.2 
			
			 199697 West Midlands 3,480 2,947 84.7 
			 199697 North West 5,171 4,387 84.8 
			 199697 Eastern 3,588 3,253 90.7 
			 199697 London 7,186 6,539 91 
			 199697 South East 5,250 4,482 85.4 
			 199697 South West 3,594 3,091 86

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has a target for reducing the average period of untreated psychosis prior to a person receiving treatment.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 8 July 2002
	The development of early intervention in psychosis teams as outlined in the NHS Plan is aimed at reducing the length of time that young people wait for appropriate treatment in first onset psychosis. Shorter periods of untreated psychosis are associated with a better outcome. By 2004 fifty early intervention teams will provide treatment and active support in the community to these young people and their families.

Pharmacists (Late Payments)

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons payments to pharmacists are not covered by the Late Payment of Debt Act 1998.

David Lammy: The Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 applies to contracts. We consider that payments by the prescription pricing authority to chemists are not made under a contract but under statutory arrangements, as set out in the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 1992 and the drug tariff.

Electronic Prescriptions

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to develop electronic prescriptions.

David Lammy: Pharmacy in the FutureImplementing the NHS Plan promised electronic transmission of prescriptions by 2004, and piloting is now underway to explore ways of linking computerised general practitioner practices to local community pharmacies using the NHSnet. Both will link to the prescription pricing authority.

Anaesthetic Machines

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether all anaesthetic machines used in the NHS operate with (a) an oxygen analyser, (b) an anti-hypoxic guard and (c) both.

David Lammy: The Medical Devices Agency (MDA) published SN2001(15) in May 2001 on Anaesthetic Machines: Prevention of Hypoxic Gas Mixtures. This advised that all anaesthetic machines capable of delivering hypoxic gas mixtures must have a hypoxic guard fitted or use an oxygen analyser with audible alarms to warn of the delivery of hypoxic gas mixtures.
	As a follow up to this safety notice, in October 2001, Sir Liam Donaldson, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), and Dr. David Jefferys, chief executive of MDA, wrote joint letters to chief executives of trusts and regional directors of public health requesting that they report back on how the actions recommended in the safety notice had been implemented.
	We know that of 5,843 anaesthetic machines in National Health Service hospitals in England, 186 have neither an oxygen analyser or hypoxic guard. Of those 186, 47 have had their ability to deliver hypoxic mixtures disabled, meaning they can deliver only oxygen or air only. All other anaesthetic machines in use in the NHS in England, 5657, comply with the safety notice by having at least one or the other.
	Many of the non-compliant machines have now been put out of service and new, compliant machines have already been ordered by many trusts. Assurances have been given by all trusts with non-compliant machines that these will be replaced or made compliant and regional directors of public health will ensure that this happens by 31 October 2002, reporting to the CMO and MDA.
	We do not hold centrally details of the number of the number anaesthetic machines which have both the guard and the analyser as this information was not required in either the safety notice or CMO/MDA joint letter.

Anaesthetic Machines

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many anaesthetic machines are in use in NHS hospitals which are not fitted with (a) oxygen analysers and (b) hypoxic guards.

David Lammy: holding answer 24 May 2002
	The Medical Devices Agency (MDA) published SN2001(15) in May 2001 on Anaesthetic Machines: Prevention of Hypoxic Gas Mixtures. This advised that all anaesthetic machines capable of delivering hypoxic gas mixtures must have a hypoxic guard fitted or use an oxygen analyser with audible alarms to warn of the delivery of hypoxic gas mixtures.
	As a follow up to this safety notice, in October 2001, Sir Liam Donaldson, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), and Dr. David Jefferys, chief executive of MDA, wrote joint letters to chief executives of trusts and regional directors of public health requesting that they report back on how the actions recommended in the safety notice had been implemented.
	We know that of 5,843 anaesthetic machines in National Health Service hospitals in England, 186 have neither an oxygen analyser or hypoxic guard. Of those 186, 47 have had their ability to deliver hypoxic mixtures disabled, meaning they can deliver only oxygen or air only. All other anaesthetic machines in use in the NHS in England, 5657, comply with the safety notice by having at least one or the other.
	Many of the non-compliant machines have now been put out of service and new, compliant machines have already been ordered by many trusts. Assurances have been given by all trusts with non-compliant machines that these will be replaced or made compliant and regional directors of public health will ensure that this happens by 31 October 2002, reporting to the CMO and MDA.

Cancer

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much time is required of (a) medical, (b) nursing and (c) management staff to develop a local cancer care plan.

Hazel Blears: All cancer networks have developed strategic service delivery plans (SDPs) to deliver the NHS Cancer Plan and ensure seamless, high quality care for patients. Although network managers, in the main, take the lead in drawing SDPs together the input of doctors, nurses and other staff is crucial to the development of realistic SDPs. It is not possible to quantify the amount of time spent by managers and other staff in developing SDPs.

Cancer

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations she has received regarding cancer rates at Burnham-on-Sea.

Hazel Blears: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received four parliamentary questions concerning this matter.

Cancer

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence he has evaluated of cancer clusters in Burnham-on-Sea.

Hazel Blears: The Department is aware of the recent survey by Green Audit of cancer in Burnham on Sea, however, it has not been provided with details of the results of the survey. Government is advised on cancer clusters near to nuclear installations by the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE) which was set up in 1985. This committee is carrying out a very large study of childhood cancer in Great Britain which includes all cases registered since the 1960s (some 33,000 cases). This study is expected to report in 2003 and will include areas around all nuclear installations in Great Britain including Burnham on Sea. The small area health statistics unit (SAHSU) is considering the feasibility of a study of all adult cancers in the areas around nuclear power stations in the United Kingdom.

Nuclear Power (Cancer Clusters)

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research he has evaluated on the effects of civil nuclear power on cancer clusters in areas around nuclear plants.

Hazel Blears: The Government is advised on these matters by the independent Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE). This committee has published six reports concerning claims of excess cancer in the areas surrounding a variety of nuclear installations. The committee has a large work programme and three further reports are in preparation. COMARE has not confirmed the claims that cancer levels are related to radioactive discharges.

Henoch Schonlein Purpura

Keith Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 16 July 2002, Official Report, column 124W, on henoch schonlein purpura, what criteria his Department uses to allocate funding in respect of combating henoch chonlein purpura among children.

Jacqui Smith: Henoch-Schonlein Purpura is most common among young children and may occur after an infection. Most children make a good recovery, with no specific treatment, but a few can develop serious complications. Whilst funding is not allocated specifically for combating Henoch-Schonlein Purpura, funding is allocated to health authorities and primary care trusts (PCT) on the basis of the relative needs of their populations. A weighted capitation formula is used to determine each health authority's/PCT's share of available resources, to enable them to commission similar levels of health services for populations in similar need.

Asthma

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the estimated costs to the National Health Service of treating asthma in (a) hospital expenditure, (b) primary care expenditure and (c) pharmaceutical expenditure in each of the last five years; and what research his Department has carried out into the potential contribution of improved (i) heating, (ii) insulation and (iii) ventilation in reducing the incidence of asthma.

Jacqui Smith: The Department does not have precise estimates of the cost of treating asthma. However respiratory disease accounted for approximately 0.5 per cent. of hospital expenditure, 1.4 per cent. of primary care expenditure and 0.3 per cent. of pharmaceutical expenditure respectively.
	Also attached is a statistical table showing net ingredient cost and the estimated total expenditure of items dispensed in the community in England for the treatment of asthma from 1997 to 2001.
	
		England
		
			 Year Net ingredient cost (millions) Total expenditure (millions) 
		
		
			 1997 470 472 
			 1998 502 497 
			 1999 523 506 
			 2000 532 519 
			 2001 567 551 
		
	
	The Department ran a research programme on the health effects of indoor air pollutants that finished last year. Three of the projects in the research programme were:
	Exposure to indoor air pollution and the risk of upper and lower respiratory disease in asthmatic children and their mothers. Dr. J Clough, University of Child Health, Southampton General Hospital at a cost of 165,175.
	Consequences for health and effects of damp on the incidence of airborne microbial cell wall components in the home. Ms T Gladding, University of Luton at a cost of 125,000.
	An epidemiological study of the impact of damp and other aspects of poor housing on adult health. Dr. S Stewart-Brown, Institute of Health Sciences, Oxford at a cost of 8,778.
	Details of these projects can be found at http://www.doh.gov.uk/hef/airpol/airpolh.htm

Multiple Sclerosis

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when the co-ordinator for the prescription plus scheme for sufferers of MS will be in post.
	(2)  what data his Department plans to collect to monitor the progress of the prescription plus scheme.

David Lammy: holding answer 22 July 2002
	Sheffield University's school of health and related research (ScHARR) has been appointed to co-ordinate monitoring under the risk-sharing scheme for drugs for multiple sclerosis announced in Health Service Circular 200204. ScHARR will shortly be approaching neurology centres about the data requirements of the scheme and the arrangements for their collection.

Stroke

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanism will be used to monitor progress against the milestones contained in Standard Five of the National Service Framework for Older People, for every general hospital treating stroke patients to have a plan to introduce a specialised stroke service by April 2002.

Jacqui Smith: The monitoring of this April milestone through the new health and social care directorates will be part of the service and financial framework return (SaFFR) process. This milestone will be monitored in the first quarter of the SaFFR which should be available at the end of July 2002.
	Informal reports from regional offices indicate that the milestone should be met in all by a few cases. Any hospital identified by the strategic health authority in the monitoring process, as not having plans will be offered appropriate advice.

Childcare Staff

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 17 June 2002, Official Report, column 148W, on childcare staff if he will provide a breakdown of whole time equivalent staff in child and family services by (a) grade, (b) job description and (c) salary band; and if he will estimate how many of these staff are frontline staff.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 24 June 2002
	The annual return that local authority social services departments in England complete only provides data on the number of staff by job description. It does not give numbers of staff by grade or salary band. The numbers of staff by job description are shown in the attached table. All the staff shown in the attached table work in front line teams.
	
		
			  1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 STAFF IN OPERATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS/NOT ESTABLISHMENT BASED
			 Provision specifically for children's services
			 Team leaders/managers 2,300 2,410 2,575 
			 Assistant team managers/senior social workers 2,040 2,225 2,340 
			 Care managers 350 285 345 
			 Field social workers 9,925 9,890 9,675 
			
			 Social services officers/social work assistants 1,755 1,980 2,245 
			 Child protection, family placement, juvenile/youth justice workers 2,705 2,950 3,175 
			 Community workers 455 480 530 
			 Occupation therapists 90 105 105 
			 Occupation therapist assistants, aids and other officers 275 360 310 
			 Technical officers 45 95 60 
			 Total of above 19,935 20,780 21,360 
			 Guardians ad litem
			 Total staff employed within GAL 170 195 20 
			 DAY CARE PROVISION
			 Family centres
			 Officers in charge 335 335 325 
			 Deputy officers in charge 300 305 295 
			 Social workers based in family centres 355 340 240 
			 Family centre workers, family aides and other staff 2,265 2,345 2,285 
			 Other support services staff 565 585 570 
			 Total of above 3,825 3,910 3,715 
			 Staff in day nurseries
			 Managers and officers in charge and nursery group leaders 195 185 140 
			 Deputy officers in charge 230 315 245 
			 Nursery officers, students and assistants 1,730 1,565 1,285 
			 Other support officers staff 480 445 395 
			 Total of above 2,635 2,510 2,060 
			 Staff in playgroups
			 Playgroup leaders and assistants 120 125 70 
			 Other support officers staff 5 5 0 
			 Total of above 125 135 70 
			 Nursery centres where funded by social services
			 Teachers (whether qualified or not) 10 0 0 
			 Managers and officers in charge 25 10 10 
			 Deputy officers in charge 25 15 10 
			 Nursery officers, students and assistants 140 80 80 
			 Other support officers staff 40 35 25 
			 Total of above 240 145 130 
			 CARE IN RESIDENTIAL ESTABLISHMENTS
			 Staff of homes and hostels mainly for children with learning disabilities
			 Managers and officers in charge 105 100 100 
			 Deputy officers in charge 160 155 140 
			 Other supervisory staff (e.e. senior care officers) 385 375 380 
			 Care staff 1,210 1,160 1,165 
			 Other support officers staff 270 285 260 
			 Total of above 2,130 2,075 2,045 
			 Staff of community homes for children looked after (including observation and assessment centres where mainly residential)
			 Managers and officers in charge 595 595 595 
			 Deputy officers in charge 690 645 640 
			 Other supervisory staff (e.e. senior care officers) 1,550 1,395 1,540 
			 Child care staff 4,765 4,775 4,660 
			 Teaching staff 105 90 95 
			 Other support officers staff 1,140 1,155 1,155 
			 Total of above 8,850 8,655 8,685 
			 SPECIALIST NEEDS ESTABLISHMENTS
			 Mainly for children (includes observation and assessment centres not included above)
			 Managers and officers in charge 90 75 60 
			 Deputy officers in charge 65 60 60 
			 Other supervisory staff (e.e. senior care officers) 255 200 150 
			 Child care staff 775 720 600 
			 Teaching staff 50 50 55 
			 Other support officers staff 230 245 190 
			 Total of above 1,465 1,340 1,110 
			 Total staff involved with children and families 39,375 39,745 39,195 
		
	
	Notes
	All these figures represent the number of whole time equivalent (wte) staff. The actual numbers of staff employed by local councils are greater than the figures shown as some of the staff work part-time.
	Figures are rounded to the nearest five wte staff.
	Guardian's Ad Litem became part of the Children and Family Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) in April 2001.

Children in Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) agency staff, (b) positions unfilled for (i) one month and (ii) three months and (c) staff in children in care settings there were in each quarter of each of the last three years.

Jacqui Smith: Pursuant to my reply on 17 June 2002, shown in the Official Report, column 148W: I regret that my reply was incorrect. It should have read:
	We do not collect information on the numbers of agency staff who work in child care settings. Information about the number of child care positions unfilled is not collected on a regular basis. Ad-hoc surveys have been undertaken in the past which have determined the vacancy rates in child care posts in social services departments or in the private sector. The last survey undertaken in this area was for community homes for children looked after run by local authorities in England and Wales and it was undertaken in 1999. This survey stated that in England the overall full-time and part-time vacancy rates were both 10.3 per cent.
	However, local authority social services departments in England complete an annual return giving information about the staff they employ as at 30 September. The data from this return gives the numbers of whole time equivalent staff employed in child and family services as follows:
	
		
			  
		
		
			 1999 39,375 
			 2000 39,745 
			 2001 39,195 
		
	
	Notes:
	The actual numbers of staff employed by local councils are greater than the above figures as some of these staff only work part-time.
	The above figures do not take into account those central and strategic staff and certain other categories of staff who provide more generic services across a range of council responsibilities.

Commission for Health Improvement

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the salaries are of the Chief Executive of the Commission for Health Improvement and other senior executives;
	(2)  what has been the cost of the Commission for Health Improvement since its inception.

David Lammy: holding answer 23 July 2002
	The cost of the commission for health improvement (CHI) between its inception on 1 November 1999 and 31 March 2002 is 39.4 million. This total includes a proportionate contribution from the National Assembly for Wales.
	The breakdown of expenditure in each year is shown below:
	
		
			 Year Amount ( million) 
		
		
			 November 1999March 2000 2.3 
			 April 2000March 2001 11.4 
			 April 2001March 2002 25.656 
		
	
	The commission's accounts for the period 200102 are published with their annual report, copies of which are available in the Library.
	Details of the salaries of the chief executive and directors are published as part of the commission for health improvement's annual accounts
	The figures for the financial year 200102 are as follows:
	
		
			  Remuneration for year ended 31/03/02 
			  () 
		
		
			 Chief executive 135,458 
			 Director of policy and development 100,717 
			 Director of nursing 93,788 
			 Director of communications 75,893 
			 Director of operations 84,833 
			 Director of human resources 85,576 
			 Director research and information 79,330 
			 Medical director 115,468 
			 Joint director of finance and information technology 104,232 
		
	
	Remuneration includes gross salary and any other allowances subject to UK taxation.

Comprehensive Spending Review

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the implications are of the comprehensive spending review with regard to enhancing the patient environment; and if specific capital budgets will be set for this.

David Lammy: The National Health Service is currently seeing the largest sustained increase in funding in its history. Decisions about the allocations of these funds will be announced in due course.

NHS Information

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department plans to change the amount of NHS information collected centrally.

David Lammy: holding answer 18 July 2002
	The information collected by the Department from the National Health Service is subject to ongoing change and review. The aim is to ensure that the value of all centrally collected information fully justifies the burden and cost it places on those in the NHS who provide it. The changes made to NHS organisations in April 2002 define new responsibilities within the service and information requirements are to be reviewed accordingly.

Performance Targets

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin of 2 July 2002, Official Report, column 306W, on performance targets, what percentage of correspondence to his Department is answered within the 20 working days targets; and whether this target includes correspondence from hon. Members.

David Lammy: holding answer 18 July 2002
	In 2001 the Department responded to 60 per cent. of its Ministerial correspondence (including hon. Members) within its service first target of 20 working days.

Overseas Visits

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the overseas trips on departmental business that have been undertaken in each of the last five years by officials in his Department; and what the (a) cost, (b) purpose and (c) result was in each case.

David Lammy: All overseas travel by officials in the Department is undertaken in accordance with the principles set in Chapter 8 of the Civil Service Management Code, and the detailed rules and guidance set out in the Department Code covering Travel and Subsistence and its Expenses Guide. The detailed information requested about individual trips is not held centrally, and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Competitive Tendering

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions in the last 12 months the requirement to engage in a competitive tendering process has been waived by his Department due to national security obligations under paragraph 6(h) of the supply regulations.

John Hutton: In the last 12 months the Department has on one occasion used the exemptions provided for in paragraph 6(h) of the Public Supply Contracts Regulations as grounds for not conforming to open competitive tendering.
	This one occasion relates to the purchase of smallpox vaccine where the Department nonetheless held discussions with several potential suppliers prior to awarding a contract.

Departmental Consultation

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints his Department has received about its 2001 consultations by (a) electronic and (b) printed means.

David Lammy: The Department has not collected data about complaints received on consultations in any form.

Departmental Consultation

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has a designated consultation co-ordinator in accordance with the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultations.

David Lammy: The Department of Health's designated consultation co-ordinator is Mr. P B Allanson.

Departmental Consultation

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which consultation documents published by his Department in 2001 were not made available as paper copies.

David Lammy: All consultations issued during 2001 were available from the Department in printed form on request and many were available on the Department's website.

Remploy

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Westbury (Dr. Murrison) of 2 July 2002, Official Report, column 304W, on Remploy, what guidance his Department gives to primary care trusts to encourage them to purchase Remploy products.

David Lammy: holding answer 18 July 2002
	The Department does not give guidance to the National Health Service to encourage the purchase of products from Remploy.
	The NHS complies with government policy on procurement determined by the Office of Government Commerce. Contracts for goods and services are awarded following strict Official Journal of the European Community procedures and on the basis of value for money. This means that all public procurement of goods and services for the NHS is based on value for money, having due regard to propriety and regularity. Value for money is defined as the optimum combination of whole-life cost and quality (or fitness for purpose) to meet the user's requirement.

Liam and Joel Blood

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will allow Liam and Joel Blood, constituents, to put their father's name on their birth certificates.

Hazel Blears: It remains the Government's position that it will bring forward legislation to permit the name of the father to be put on the child's birth certificate where that child was conceived using the father's stored sperm after his death as soon as the Parliamentary timetable allows.

Kava

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he plans to review the sale of kava.

David Lammy: Following the emergence of safety concerns in Europe, the issue of liver toxicity in relation to the use of medicinal products containing the herbal ingredient kava-kava was reviewed by the committee on safety of medicines (CSM) in December 2001. The herbal sector voluntarily withdrew stocks of products containing Kava-kava while the safety concerns were under investigation. In the light of further data that has since become available the CSM has recently given a provisional opinion that the possible therapeutic benefits of medicinal products containing kava-kava can not be considered to outweigh the safety risks and that consideration should be given to appropriate regulatory action.
	The Medicines Control Agency (MCA) is currently aware of 68 cases worldwide of liver problems suspected to be associated with kava-kava. These include cases of liver failure resulting in six liver transplants and three deaths. There have been three reports of liver toxicity in the United Kingdom suspected to be due to consumption of kava-kava.
	Following the committee's advice, the MCA will be consulting on proposals to make an Order under Section 62 of the Medicines Act 1968, prohibiting the sale, supply or importation of unlicensed medicines containing kava-kava. Regulatory action is in progress in relation to licensed medicines containing kava-kava.
	The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has also considered the CSM's assessment as kava-kava may be used as an ingredient in some foods. In parallel with the MCA, the FSA will consult on legislation banning food products containing kava-kava.
	Pending the outcome of consultation and any regulatory action which may follow, the MCA and the FSA have indicated to the relevant sectors that they would welcome continuing support for the voluntary withdrawal of kava-kava products in the interests of public safety.

Alternative Medicine

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last met representatives of alternative and complementary medical practitioners; what was discussed; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: My noble Friend, Lord Hunt, and I met representatives from the European Herbal Practitioners Association and a wide range of other herbal interest groups on 10 July. The primary focus of that meeting was the proposed European Directive on traditional herbal medicinal products.

Cannabis

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has taken a decision on referring cannabis to NICE for assessment once the clinical trials are completed; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: We referred the use of cannabis derivatives for treatment of the symptoms of multiple sclerosis to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence on 20 May 2002. The precise timetabling of the appraisal is a matter for the Institute.

Parliamentary Questions

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will answer the question tabled by the hon. Member for Nottingham North for answer on 23 May on strokes.

Jacqui Smith: I replied to the hon. Member today.

Parliamentary Questions

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines he sets as to the time for information to be placed in the Library in response to parliamentary answers to hon. Members.

David Lammy: holding answer 18 July 2002
	Information is usually placed in the Library at the same time as responses are given to parliamentary questions.
	Where information is not available at the time of answering, the material is placed in the Library as soon as it becomes available.

Parliamentary Questions

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many oral questions he has transferred to other departments in each of the last 18 months.

David Lammy: No oral questions from hon. Members have been transferred to other Departments.

Acrylamide

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent guidance the Chief Medical Officer has issued to the public regarding the incidence of acrylamide in baked and fried food; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is responsible for providing advice on this issue. It advised consumers on 24 April 2002 that there was no need to change their diet as a result of research published that day by the Swedish National Food Authority, which had found previously unexpected levels of acrylamide in a range of cooked and heat-processed foods. Further information on the levels of acrylamide in food and their significance to public health has since been published by FSA and others. The FSA has reiterated, in statements on 17 May and 27 June, that on the basis of current evidence people should eat a balanced diet including a variety of fruit and vegetables, and that as part of a balanced diet people should moderate their consumption of fried and fatty foods. The FSA has not advised people to stop eating any of the foods tested. The same advice has been issued by an expert consultation convened by the World Health Organisation and United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, and has been endorsed by the European Commission's Scientific Committee on Food. The FSA will publish further information on acrylamide in food as it becomes available, and will keep its public advice under review.

Encephalitis

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of encephalitis tick-borne infection were diagnosed in the UK in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: No clinical cases of UK diagnosed tick-borne encephalitis have been reported to the public health laboratory service communicable disease surveillance centre between January 1997 and the end of June 2002.

Devolution

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the EU Committee on the approximation of the laws, regulation and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Under European Union Directive 2001/37/EC on the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products, provision is made for a committee to be set up to assist the European Commission in developing and updating the provisions of the Directive. The committee is currently in the process of being set up and its first meeting is anticipated to take place before the end of this year. The United Kingdom will be represented by one independent expert, who is not an official of either the UK Government or the Scottish Executive.

Devolution

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the EU Committee on the Community action programme on injury prevention is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: This Committee last met on 18 December 2001, when it was formally disbanded, there are no plans for this committee to meet again.
	The Department has lead responsibility for representing the United Kingdom at meetings of this committee. They consult the Devolved Administrations to ensure points made represent all parts of the United Kingdom including the Scottish Executive.
	Following the successful outcome of the recent conciliation exercise, a new European Union public health programme will start in January 2003. This programme will build on the work of the current committee which will cease to function under the new programme.

Devolution

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the EU Committee for the implementation of the Decision to set up a network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The next meeting is due to be held on 7/8 October. The director of the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health (SCIEH) attended for the UK surveillance unit on one occasion.
	The Scottish Executive is represented by the Department.

Devolution

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the EU Committee for the implementation of the Community action programme on health monitoring in the framework of the action plan for public health is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: There are no plans for this committee to meet again.
	The Department and the Office for National Statistics have had lead responsibility for representing the United Kingdom at meetings of this committee. They consult the devolved authorities to ensure points made represent all parts of the United Kingdom including the Scottish Executive.
	Following the successful outcome of the recent conciliation exercise, a new European Union public health programme will start in January 2003. This programme will build on the work of the current committee which will cease to function under the new programme.

Devolution

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the EU Committee for the implementation of the Community action programme on health promotion, information, education and training is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: We understand there are no plans for this Committee to meet again. The Department has had lead responsibility for representing the United Kingdom at meetings of this Committee. The Devolved Administrations have been consulted to ensure points made represent all parts of the United Kingdom including the Scottish Executive.
	Following the successful outcome of the recent conciliation exercise, a new EU Public Health programme will start in January 2003. This programme will build on the work of the Committee which will cease to function under the new programme.

Devolution

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the EU Committee for the implementation of the Community action programme for the prevention of AIDS and certain other communicable diseases is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The date of the next meeting has not been set. There are no Scottish executive members. The Scottish Executive is represented by the Department.

Nuclear Emergency Plan

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research he has commissioned into the practicality of distributing iodine tablets as part of a national nuclear emergency plan.

John Hutton: The Government has established detailed plans for responding to major incidents involving radiation. Cross-departmental contingency plans are in place and regular exercises test national and local responses to a radiation or nuclear incident. Careful consideration has been given to the practicalities of distributing potassium iodate tablets to the population and arrangements for distributing these tablets have been tested in recent exercises.

RU-486

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what studies his Department has undertaken during each of the last 10 years into the safety of the abortion drug RU-486; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the (a) contra-indications and (b) side effects are of the use of the abortion drug RU-486; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: RU-486, now more commonly known as mifepristone (Mifegyne), is licensed for use in medical termination of pregnancy. Information on how to use mifepristone, as well as information on possible side effects, is provided in the product information for prescribers in the summary of product characteristics (SPC) and for patients in the patient information leaflet (PIL).
	Warnings and contraindications for the use of mifepristone which are included in the SPC and PIL are as follows: allergy to mifepristone or any component of the product, suspected ectopic pregnancy, pregnancy not confirmed by ultrasound scan or biological tests, chronic adrenal failure, severe asthma not controlled by therapy and presence of a inter-uterine device in situ. In addition, special care should be given to patients with haemostatic disorders with hypocoagulability or with anaemia, and patients on long term therapy with corticosteroids since corticosteroid efficacy can be decreased by concomitant treatment with mifepristone. Mifepristone is not recommended for use in patients with hepatic or renal failure or in women over 35 years of age and who smoke more than ten cigarettes a day.
	As with all medicines, mifepristone is not without side effects. Some of the side effects experienced by patients such as pain, uterine contractions or cramping and vaginal bleeding result from the termination of pregnancy. Side effects of the medication which may occur in some women include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramping, hypersensitivity reactions such as skin rashes and urticaria, headaches, malaise, hot flushes, dizziness, chills and fever.
	The Medicines Control Agency, with advice from the independent scientific advisory Committee, the Committee on Safety of Medicines, is responsible for monitoring the safety of all marketed medicines.
	The safety of a mifepristone was evaluated at the time of granting a marketing authorisation and continues to be monitored using information from clinical trials, post-marketing studies and from spontaneous adverse reaction reports. There have been a large number of studies and reviews of the safety of mifepristone published in the scientific literature in the last ten years.
	Induced abortion is one of the most commonly performed gynaecological procedures in Great Britain. Abortion, both surgical and medical, is safer than carrying a pregnancy to term and complications are uncommon. All available evidence in terms of safety and efficacy of mifepristone was reviewed by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists when producing its evidence based clinical guideline The Care of Women Seeking Induced Abortion (2000) and is referenced. Medical abortion is one of the methods recommended in the guideline.

RU-486

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what he estimates will be the savings during each of the next five years to the National Health Service of using the abortion drug RU-486 instead of surgical abortion; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what was the total cost to the National Health Service in each of the last five years of providing the abortion drug RU-486.

Hazel Blears: The information available relates to all medical abortions, of which about 95 per cent. are undertaken using RU-486.
	The estimated cost to the National Health Service for NHS-funded medical abortions that took place on NHS premises is in the table below. This information is not available prior to 199899.
	
		
			  Inpatient and day case activity Outpatient attendances(82),(83) 
		
		
			 199899 3.9m Not available 
			 19992000 4.4m Not available 
			 200001 5.2m 1.8m 
		
	
	(82)A medical abortion, using RU486, is a two-stage process. The first stage, which is the administering of the drug RU486, often takes place in an outpatient clinic.
	(83)The outpatient clinic component of the cost of medical abortions is not available prior to 200001.
	Source
	National Schedule of Reference Costs.
	The independent sector also undertakes some medical abortions, using RU486, under NHS contract. Costs to the NHS for these abortions are not collected centrally.
	It is important that women should be offered a choice of recommended methods for relevant gestation bands, in accordance with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' evidence-based guideline The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion (2000). The Government has not set targets or made projections for the future uptake and costs of medical abortion. There is no significant difference in the overall costs between surgical and medical abortion.

RU-486

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that the abortion drug RU-486 will be administered in accordance with the Abortion Act 1967, as amended by section 37 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Under Section 2(2) of the Abortion Act 1967, as amended, registered medical practitioners must notify the Chief Medical Officer of every completed termination of pregnancy they perform. The notification form contains detailed information relating to the procedure including the doctors who certified there were grounds under the Act, gestation, method used and place of termination. Every form is checked and monitored by Departmental officials to ensure that the abortion was performed within the provisions of the Act.

RU-486

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many abortions were carried out in each of the last 10 years using the abortion drug RU-486;
	(2)  what his proposed target levels in 200203 are for use of the abortion drug RU-486; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The number of abortions carried out in the last ten years using the abortion drug RU-486 for residents of England and Wales are shown in the table.
	
		
			 Year England Wales England and Wales 
		
		
			 1991 1022 42 1064 
			 1992 1502 63 1565 
			 1993 3719 224 3943 
			 1994 5324 376 5700 
			 1995 6983 685 7668 
			 1996 8782 933 9715 
			 1997 10345 956 11301 
			 1998 12849 1064 13913 
			 1999 14735 1284 16019 
			 2000 17647 1844 19491 
		
	
	Source:
	Statistics DivisionDepartment of Health.
	The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' evidence-based guideline The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion (2000) recommends that women should be offered a choice of recommended methods for relevant gestation bands. It is expected that as medical abortion becomes more widely available more women will choose this method. No targets have been set for the use of medical abortion.

RU-486

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the rate of incomplete abortions following the use of the abortion drug RU-486 is; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: All methods of first trimester abortion carry a risk of failure to terminate the pregnancy, thus necessitating a further procedure. The evidence based clinical guideline The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion (2000) produced by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists states that the failure rate for medical abortions is around 6.0 per thousand.

RU-486

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what counselling is offered to a woman (a) contemplating, (b) during and (c) after an abortion using the abortion drug RU-486; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists's evidence-based guideline The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion (2000), which applies to both medical and surgical abortions, recognises the importance of women seeking abortion receiving accurate impartial information. Verbal advice must be supported by printed information which every woman considering abortion can understand and may take away and read before the procedure.
	Clinicians caring for women requesting abortion should try to identify those patients who require more support in decision making than can be provided in the routine clinic setting. Facilities for additional support, including access to social services, should be available. Appropriate information and support should be available for those who consider, but do not proceed to, abortion.
	Professionals should be equipped to provide women with the information they need in order to give genuinely informed consent:
	that abortion is safer than continuing a pregnancy to term and that complications are uncommon;
	description of the abortion methods that are available;
	immediate complications;
	complications in the early weeks following abortion.
	During the procedure, staff are on hand to give support to women.
	The guideline also considers the mental health implications of termination and concluded: Only a small minority of women experience any long term, adverse psychological sequelae after abortion. Early distress, although common, is usually a continuation of symptoms present before the abortion. Conversely, long-lasting, negative effects on both mothers and their children are reported where abortion has been denied.
	Referral for further counselling should be available for the small minority of women who experience long term post abortion distress.

Birth Statistics

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to include women's health issues relating to preganancy and birth in future funding priorities for research councils.

Jacqui Smith: Research into women's health issues relating to pregnancy and childbirth will be given appropriate priority during the process to develop the children's national service framework, in competition with the Secretary of State's other priorities. These will be discussed with the research councils.

NHS Maternity Units

David Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list NHS maternity units in descending order of the number of (a) live births and (b) stillbirths in 2001.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	The National Statistician will write to the hon. Gentleman shortly and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.

HFCs

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review NHS Model Engineering Specification Rev 3 of November 1997 (MES C10 Refrigeration Plant General) to ensure that it conforms with the Government's policy on use of HFCs.

David Lammy: The current version of model engineering specifications C10 refrigeration plant (general), although pre-dating European Community regulations on the supply and use of CFCs and HCFCs, identifies the phasing out of CFC and HCFC compounds and requires the use of HFC refrigerants in accordance with Government policy.
	All National Health Service Estates model engineering specifications are subject to periodic review to take account of updates in standards and changes in clinical practice. Any necessary changes to model engineering specifications C10 will be made as part of the next review during 2003.

Dental Treatment

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial assistance is available to pensioners when paying for dental treatment; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: Patients, including pensioners, who are likely to have difficulty in paying for dental treatment are entitled to financial help with the charges. Many pensioners will be able to afford to pay for treatment, but where they cannot they can apply for help under the low income scheme and may be entitled to free treatment, or partial help with the cost of treatment.
	The Government believes that it is a better use of limited resources to base help with charges for National Health Service dentistry on the individual's ability to pay, so ensuring that help is focused on those who need it most. The Government meets over two thirds of the total cost of dentistry. Many patients including pensioners, receiving NHS dental treatment are either exempt from charges or can receive help through the low income scheme.

Committee Mandates

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the mandate of the Committee for the implementation of the Community action programme on pollution-related diseases in the framework of the action plan for public health is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the United Kingdom representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The European Union Committee for the implementation of the Community action programme on pollution-related diseases was mandated under Article 5 of Decision No 1296/1999/EC of the European Parliament and Council. The Committee assists the Commission in taking forward the programme by providing opinions on the work programme and research proposals submitted for funding under the programme.
	The Committee met twice in the last year, on 12 September 2001 and on 23 January 2002. One United Kingdom official from the Department attended the September 2001 meeting.
	Costs to public funds were minimal, meetings usually last one day, the Commission pay the travel costs of nominated representatives, UK Departments are required to pay subsistence and UK travel costs.
	Details about the Committee, the programme and funded projects can be found on Europa, the EU on-line website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/indexen.html
	Together with Member States, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EX, to simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission.
	As an obligation to this Decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The first report was deposited in the Library on 26 February 2002 (Com (2001) 783 Final).
	As part of the review process, the UK Government has encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent action, to be accessible through its website.

Committee Mandates

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the mandate of the Committee for the implementation of the Community action plan to combat cancer is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the United Kingdom representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 4 July, Official Report, column 570W.

Drink Additives

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to receive guidance from the European Union Scientific Committee on Food on the upper safe levels for daily intake of (a) taurine and (b) glucuronolactone; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The European Union Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) concluded in their 1999 opinion on the safety of caffeine and other constituents of energy drinks that further studies would be required in order to be able to establish upper safe levels for daily intake of taurine and glucuronolactone. The SCF is currently reviewing new data on the ingredients of energy drinks and considering whether there is a need to review its 1999 opinion in light of this information. It is expected that this review will be completed before the end of the year, when the remit of the SCF expires.

Drink Additives

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to receive analysis of the research on the safety of high caffeine drinks from the EU Scientific Committee on Food; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: New data on the safety of the ingredients of energy drinks has been submitted to the Scientific Committee on Food (SCF). The committee has been asked to consider if, in light of this new information, there is a need to revise their previous opinion expressed in 1999. It is expected that the SCF will report on their findings by the end of the year, when the remit of the committee expires.

Orphan Chemicals

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the likely changes in cost to the NHS of the creation of monopoly suppliers through the licensing of orphan chemicals following the implementation of UK legislation on the EU Directive on Orphan Chemicals.

David Lammy: No assessment has been made of the cost to the National Health Service of medicines licensed under the European Orphan Drugs Regulations. Four drugs have been authorised to date and approximately 200 others have been designated and are in the pipeline for authorisation. Until the prices of these medicines and the number of patients requiring them are known it is difficult to quantify the cost. Where companies make excessive profits on branded medicines these are recovered under the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme (PPRS) and statutory powers are available to deal with medicines not covered by that scheme.

EU Food Supplements Directive

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response the United Kingdom has made to the EU proposals to bring food supplements under the Medicines Directive.

David Lammy: The European Commission published proposals for wide ranging amendments to the regulatory regime for human and veterinary medicines in December 2001. The proposed changes include a new definition of a medicinal product.
	The Government recognises the need to ensure that the definition of a medicine is drafted in such a way that will allow new therapies to be appropriately regulated. However, the United Kingdom's view is that the extension of the scope of the medicines legislation, particularly when linked to the new definition, is unwarranted and unacceptable as it would capture many products, including certain food supplements, that are already covered by other sectoral legislation. The Government sees no justification for this proposal and will continue to resist it. This position is shared by most other Member States.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Crime Statistics

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many offences there were and what the rate of incidence per 1,000 population was of (a) violence against the person, (b) sexual offences, (c) robbery, (d) burglary, (e) theft and handling stolen goods, (f) fraud and forgery, (g) criminal damage and (h) drug and other offences in (i) St Helens, (ii) Merseyside, (iii) the North West and (iv) England in (A) 1997, (B) 1998, (C) 1999, (D) 2000 and (E) 2001;
	(2)  what the rate of detection was of (a) violence against the person, (b) sexual offences, (c) robbery, (d) burglary, (e) theft and handling stolen goods, (f) fraud and forgery, (g) criminal damage, (h) drug and other offences and (i) burglary of a dwelling in (1) St Helens, (2) Merseyside, (3) the North West and (4) England in (A) 1997, (B) 1998, (C) 1999, (D) 2000 and (E) 2001.

John Denham: holding answer 23 July 2002
	The available requested information is given in the tables. For the number of offences, the number of recorded crimes are given, from which the rates per population and detection rates are calculated.
	It should be noted that there was a change of counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998, and so numbers of recorded crimes and detection rates before and after that date are not directly comparable. Also, some forces will have introduced the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard ahead of its national implementation on 1 April 2002, and so this will be reflected in the England and North West Region figures. The counting rules for detections changed on 1 April 1999, so that numbers of detections before and after that date will not be directly comparable.
	It should be noted that recorded crime is subject to changes in reporting and recording. For example, the number of common assaults in England and Wales recorded in the British Crime Survey, which measures victims' experience of crime, decreased by an estimated 24 per cent. from 1999 to 200102. However, common assaults recorded by the police in that area over that period increased by 23 per cent. Offences recorded by the police may therefore not necessarily be a reflection of the real level of offences, or trends for offences.
	
		Recorded crimes by offence groupSt Helens(84)
		
			   19992000   200001   200102  
			 Offence Group Offences recorded Offences per 1,000 population Percentage cleared up Offences recorded Offences per 1,000 population Percentage cleared up Offences recorded Offences per 1,000 population Percentage cleared up 
		
		
			 Violence against the person 1,693 9.5 69 1,795 10.1 74 1,913 10.7 69 
			 Sexual offences 109 0.6 68 153 0.9 79 125 0.7  
			 Robbery 171 1.0 21 168 0.9 27 214 1.2 36 
			 Burglary in a dwelling   15   14   17 
		
	
	(84) Full details of the other offence groups were not collected in the time period requested.
	
		Recorded crimes by offence groupMerseyside
		
			   1997   199899  19992000 200001 200102 
			 Offence Group Offences recorded Offences per 1,000 population Percentage cleared up Offence cleared up Offences per 1,000 population Percentage cleared up Offences recorded Offences per 1,000 population Percentage cleared up Offences recorded Offences per 1,000 population Percentage cleared up Offences recorded Offences per 1,000 population Percentage cleared up 
		
		
			 Violence against the person 8,083 5.7 69 12,208 8.6 74 14,639 10.4 69 15,855 11.3 71 16,030 11.4 64 
			 Sexual offences 906 0.6 82 1,019 0.7 73 935 0.7 67 982 0.7 68 1,018 0.7 55 
			 Robbery 2,141 1.5 25 2,484 1.8 23 2,663 1.9 18 2,405 1.7 21 3,155 2.3 19 
			 Burglary 26,266 18.5 26 26,498 18.8 22 25,638 18.2 12 23,938 17.1 13 25,478 18.2 12 
			 Burglary in dwelling   30   27   15   17   15 
			 Theft and Handling 58,520 41.2 29 59,044 41.8 24 62,230 44.2 19 57,844 41.2 21 59,698 42.5 19 
			 Fraud and Forgery 4,269 3.0 59 4,884 3.5 59 4,794 3.4 55 5,021 3.6 53 5,380 3.8 28 
			 Criminal damage 23,677 16.7 15 27,465 19.4 12 30,822 21.9 11 30,593 21.8 12 33,899 24.2 10 
			 Drug offences5,620 4.0 95 4,838 3.4 99 4,421 3.2 97 4,390 3.1 95 
			 Other offences 2,117 1.5 97 1,652 1.2 90 1,613 1.1 82 1,748 1.3 79 1,886 1.3 76 
			 Total 125,979 88.7 31 14,0874 99.7 31 14,8172 105.1 26 14,2807 101.7 28 15,0934 107.6 24 
		
	
	
		Recorded crimes by offence groupNorth West Region
		
			   1997   199899 19992000 200001 200102 
			 Offence Group Offences recorded Offences per 1,000 population Percentage cleared up Offences recorded Offences per 1,000 population Percentage cleared up Offences recorded Offences per 1,000 population Percentage cleared up Offences recorded Offences per 1,000 population Percentage cleared up Offences recorded Offences per 1,000 population Percentage cleared up 
		
		
			 Violence against the person 32,097 4.7 73 70,555 10.3 78 75,568 11.0 74 77,150 11.2 72 85,416 12.4 66 
			 Sexual offences 4,425 0.6 82 4,865 0.7 77 4,550 0.7 70 4,663 0.7 65 5,070 0.7 58 
			 Robbery 9,702 1.4 23 11,613 1.7 22 12,911 1.9 18 14,127 2.1 18 16,406 2.4 17 
			 Burglary 150,235 21.8 18 14,8840 21.6 16 140,632 20.4 11 131,766 19.2 10 140,353 20.4 10 
			 Burglary in dwelling   20   18   13   12   12 
			 Theft and Handling 290,143 42.1 24 297,498 43.2 22 294,620 42.8 20 280,300 40.7 19 298,199 43.3 17 
			 Fraud and Forgery 16,398 2.4 57 28,694 4.2 51 32,363 4.7 43 33,019 4.8 40 31,029 4.5 33 
			 Criminal damage 137,796 20.0 13 135,878 19.7 16 150,369 21.8 14 155,192 22.6 13 177,127 25.7 12 
			 Drug offences19,267 2.8 99 16,106 2.3 99 15,070 2.2 98 14,775 2.1 97 
			 Other offences 8,514 1.2 98 9,520 1.4 85 9,262 1.3 83 8,768 1.3 82 9,434 1.4 78 
			 Total 649,310 94.2 25 726,730 105.6 30 736,381 106.9 26 720,055 104.7 25 777,809 112.8 23 
		
	
	
		Recorded crimes by offence groupEngland
		
			   1997   199899 19992000 200001 200102 
			  Offences recorded Offences per 1,000 population Percentage cleared up Offences recorded Offences per 1,000 population Percentage cleared up Offences recorded Offences per 1,000 population Percentage cleared up Offences recorded Offences per 1,000 population Percentage cleared up Offences recorded Offences per 1,000 population Percentage cleared up 
		
		
			 Violence against the person 233,441 4.8 78 470,689 9.6 70 543,,116 11.0 63 562,692 11.3 60 613,661 12.3 57 
			 Sexual offences 31,291 0.6 76 34,356 0.7 67 36,043 0.7 57 35,605 0.7 51 39,674 0.8 48 
			 Robbery 62,261 1.3 27 65,982 1.3 22 83,368 1.7 18 94,264 1.9 18 120345 2.4 16 
			 Burglary 968,630 19.7 22 911,243 18.5 18 869,704 17.6 12 803,144 16.2 12 846,287 16.9 12 
			 Burglary in dwelling   25   22   14   14   14 
			 Theft and Handling 2,059,130 42.0 24 208,7864 42.4 21 2,124,893 42.9 17 2,056,337 41.3 17 2,177,042 43.5 16 
			 Fraud and Forgery 128,641 2.6 48 267,497 5.4 35 322,884 6.5 29 308,875 6.2 28 307,165 6.1 27 
			 Criminal damage 822,029 16.8 16 823,520 16.7 17 890,756 18.0 15 906800 18.2 14 1007567 20.2 13 
			 Drug offences126,196 2.6 97 113,346 2.3 96 105,107 2.1 95 111,895 2.2 94 
			 Other offences 55,968 1.1 95 59748 1.2 77 61,590 1.2 73 59,566 1.2 71 61,681 1.2 70 
			 Total 4,361,391 88.9 27 4,847,095 98.4 28 5,045,700 101.9 24 4932390 99.1 24 5,285,317 105.7 23 
		
	
	There was no separate drug offence category in 1997. Trafficking was included in Other Offences.

Young Offender Institutions

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what actions have been undertaken to promote education on (a) human rights and (b) the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in young offender institutions.

Hilary Benn: All staff in the Prison Service are provided with information about the Human Rights Act 1998. Senior managers and key policy staff have undertaken training on the implications of the Act for their work and a range of information has been produced and distributed for both staff and prisoners. No formal training has been provided on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child but staff are kept informed regarding changes in policy or procedures which are implemented in order to meet our obligations under the Convention.

New Police Standards Unit

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much it will cost to set up and run the New Police Standards Unit; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 17 June 2002, Official Report, column 108W.

Court/Prison Closures

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for the closure of (a) courts and (b) prisons.

Hilary Benn: Decisions on the closure of magistrates' courts in England and Wales are for the individual magistrates' courts committees (MCCs) to determine in consultation with their paying authorities. An authority that is aggrieved by determination of an MCC has the right to appeal to the Lord Chancellor.
	Decisions on the closure of county courts in England and Wales are for the Lord Chancellor. The Court Service is reviewing the existing network of courts under the Courts and Tribunals Modernisation Programme. Detailed plans are still being developed and will be subject to public consultation.
	The Strategy for the court estate published in the report Modernising the Civil and Family Courts, shows that only one county court at Shorditch, is currently earmarked for closure.
	In respect of Crown Courts, public consultation on the proposed closure of the Knutsford Crown Court has ended and the Group Manager responsible for the court is currently considering the responses to the consultation process.
	The Government has no plans to close prisons at present. However the closure of outdated prisons, as and when population pressures allow, does form part of the Government's long term strategy for modernising the prison estate.

Police Cells

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) adult male prisoners, (b) women prisoners and (c) juveniles were held in police cells in each of the last six weeks; and for how long in each case.

Hilary Benn: Her Majesty's Prison Service does not collect data on the individual status of prisoners held in police cells or how long they are held in police custody. The table shows the total number of prisoners, including adult males, females and juveniles held in police cells over the last six weeks.
	
		
			 Week Commencing in 2002 Total Prisoners held in police accommodation 
		
		
			 10 June 325 
			 17 June 509 
			 24 June 542 
			 1 July 813 
			 8 July 1,034 
			 15 July 749

Police Cells

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are being held in police cells; in what areas of the country they are held; and at what cost to the Prison Service.

Hilary Benn: There were 191 prisoners held in police accommodation on the night of 23 July 2002. With the exception of Wales, prisoners were held in all areas of the country.
	Police forces that have been asked to accommodate prisoners, where Prison Service accommodation is exceptionally unavailable, will be able to claim the costs of that accommodation from the Prison Service. As yet, no police force has submitted invoices for this service, but any claims submitted should be in line with the costing guidance issued in 1997 which ensures that police forces charge on a consistent and auditable basis.

Police Cells

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what regulations and standards govern the treatment of prisoners held in police cells.

Hilary Benn: The operational management of prisoners held in police accommodation is a matter for the Chief Constable of the forces concerned. While the police will do everything possible to care for the prisoners and to meet their basic needs it will not be possible to offer a prison regime. Every effort is made, however, to minimise the length of time that individual prisoners are held in police cells.

Youth Offenders (Drugs)

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will indicate, for each prison, youth offenders institution and other institutions for offenders, people on remand and ex-offenders (a) the way in which drug prescriptions are recorded and (b) the progress being made towards this work being dealt with using information technology.

Hilary Benn: Most Prison Service establishments manually record drug prescriptions as part of the Inmate Medical Record (IMR). Where prisons have in-house pharmacy services, drugs dispensed will usually be recorded both on a pharmacy computer system and manually on the IMR.
	A pilot exercise is currently being undertaken in seven prisons to asses the operation of new clinical information systems to support prison health services. The pilots are focusing specifically on primary care provision, including electronic prescribing, and will be evaluated to inform decisions on the wider rollout of clinical information systems in prisons. We are also considering how best to update our information technology support for prison pharmacies.

Immigration

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many successful applications have been made since 1999 under the concession for over-age applications for entry clearance, following DNA testing; and if he will make a statement on the future of this concession.

Beverley Hughes: On 1 January 1991 a concession was introduced concerning over-age applicants for entry clearance, following DNA testing. It enabled those dependent children who had previously been refused entry to join their parents in the United Kingdom owing to doubts about their being related as claimed, to re-apply if a DNA test now confirmed the relationship. Amongst other requirements, they had also still to be dependent upon their parents and unmarried. By July 1991, some 550 cases relating to the concession had been considered of which 115 were conceded. However, in recent years use of the concession has been nil. Each year between five and 10 people who have already re-applied once and been refused, have applied again, but no applications have been granted under the concession.
	Last year, some members made representations to my predecessor, urging that the concession be widened so as to allow people who had been refused as minors to re-apply. The Government had considerable sympathy with their views and with the people yet more who were wrongly refused before the introduction of DNA tests made such decisions much more reliable. However, this situation arose owing to technological advances and we have already attempted, by way of the present concession, to correct any previous injustices resulting from decisions which were taken in good faith on the available evidence at the time. It is now no longer possible to identify those people who may have been wrongly refused due to doubts about their relationship to a United Kingdom sponsor, as many records of earlier decisions have been destroyed.
	Given that it is not possible to widen the concession, and given that the concession is not being used and has not been used for some time, we have decided that the concession should end. After 24 August 2002 no new applications under the concession will be considered. There remains within the immigration Rules provision for dependent relatives who find themselves in distressed circumstances to apply to join a sponsor in the United Kingdom. Any future applications will instead be considered under the existing immigration Rules governing dependent relatives.

Correctional Services Review

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the form will be of the independent review of the correctional services described in the White Paper, Justice For All.

Hilary Benn: I shall shortly be announcing membership of the new Correctional Services Board which will include a number of independent non-executive members. These members will have a specific remit to oversee work on reviewing effectiveness and value for money in the delivery of correctional services so as to reduce re-offending, and on how we improve our ability to manage the prison population.

Brixton Prison

Charlotte Atkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will announce the outcome of the market testing of the management of HMP Brixton.

Hilary Benn: The market test for the management of Brixton did not attract bids from the private sector, partly because of its poor physical condition and location. The in house bid, while being impressive, was not affordable. Therefore, instead of operating under a Service Level Agreement, the prison will continue to be run under existing management arrangements. However, a performance baseline will be set with challenging improvement targets, and progress will be closely monitored.

Asylum Seekers

Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements exist for asylum seekers to submit material in support of their claim.

Beverley Hughes: Under existing procedures, an applicant who is not issued with a Statement of Evidence Form (SEF) to complete prior to their asylum interview is allowed five days after their substantive asylum interview to make further representations before a decision is taken on their asylum claim.
	Those asylum applicants issued with an SEF prior to any substantive interview do not benefit from this arrangement. This is because applicants issued with an SEF form are given 10 working days to submit the completed form to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. We think this gives applicants a reasonable period to set out their claim and time to seek legal representation if they wish for the submission of further supporting evidence.
	We have decided that asylum applicants who go through the induction centre process will no longer benefit from the five day period to make further representations. The induction centre process is designed to familiarise an asylum applicant with the asylum procedures, providing the asylum seeker with detailed briefings on different aspects of the asylum process and to explain to applicants what their obligations are. All asylum applicants who go through the induction centre process are told that all information relevant to their claim must be available by the time they are substantively interviewed because decisions on claims will be made shortly after the interview. The interview itself will be scheduled to take place two weeks after the applicant has gone through the induction process. We consider that this two week period offers the applicant sufficient time to prepare for the interview and gather any supporting information he considers necessary.
	This change is in keeping with our commitment to deliver fast asylum decisions, whilst at the same time ensuring that asylum seekers have a proper opportunity to establish their claims.
	These arrangements do not apply to Oakington or any detained cases.

Road Traffic Penalties

Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Government's response to the consultation paper on road traffic penalties will be published.

Bob Ainsworth: The Government's response to the consultation paper on the review of road traffic penalties is published today. Copies have been placed in the Library.

Campsfield House

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future of the Campsfield House immigration removal centre.

Beverley Hughes: On 7 February, my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, announced that he had decided that the Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre would close by spring 2003. However, following the incident at The Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre in February and the consequent temporary reduction in Removal Centre capacity, I have decided to postpone the closure of Campsfield House until September 2004. This is in order to maintain Removal Centre capacity and thus support our commitment to increase the rate of removal of failed asylum seekers.

IND Complaints Committee

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on changes in the membership of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's independent Complaints Audit Committee.

Beverley Hughes: Ms Catherine Tuitt has been appointed as a new Member of the Complaints Audit Committee to replace Mercy Jeyasingham, whose three-year term of tenure ends in July 2002. Ms Tuitt has worked in a variety of positions, both in the private and public sector, ranging from legal consultancy and public affairs, to chairing council committees. A local elected councillor until recently, Ms Tuitt has considerable experience in facilitating service provision. She is presently an advocate for a voluntary community organisation providing support and advice to refugees and children of refugees.

Careless Driving

Alice Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers convicted of causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs caused crashes which resulted in multiple deaths in each of the past 10 years.

Bob Ainsworth: I will write to the hon. Member.

Careless Driving

Alice Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average penalty given to (a) drivers convicted of causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs and (b) drivers convicted of multiple counts of causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs in each of the past 10 years.

Bob Ainsworth: I will write to the hon. Member.

Careless Driving

Alice Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers charged with causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs were involved in crashes that resulted in multiple deaths in each of the past 10 years.

Bob Ainsworth: I will write to the hon. Member

Careless Driving

Alice Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers were convicted of multiple counts of causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs in each of the past 10 years.

Bob Ainsworth: I will write to the hon. Member.

Careless Driving

Alice Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers were (a) charged with and (b) convicted of causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs in each of the past 10 years.

Bob Ainsworth: I will write to the hon. Member

Careless Driving

Alice Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers convicted of multiple counts of causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs (a) served the whole of their sentences and (b) had their sentence reduced, in each of the past 10 years.

Bob Ainsworth: I will write to the hon. Member.

Careless Driving

Alice Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers convicted of multiple counts of causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs (a) were given concurrent sentences and (b) were given consecutive sentences, in each of the past 10 years.

Bob Ainsworth: I will write to the hon. Member

Breath Tests

Alice Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what percentage of the breath tests carried out by police officers proved (a) over the legal drink-drive limit and (b) positive, but not over the legal drink-drive limit, broken down by police force, in each of the last 10 years.
	(2)  how many breath tests were carried out by police officers, broken down by police force, in each of the last 10 years.

Bob Ainsworth: Since 1992 police forces have been required to supply centrally the total number of screening tests and the sum of positive and refused tests as given in the tables.
	
		Table A: Percentage of positive or refused screening breath tests, by police force area, 19922000
		
			 England and Wales Percentages 
			 Police force area 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998(85) 1999(85) 2000(85) 
		
		
			 Avon and 
			 Somerset 16 17 18 19 20 21 15 17 19 
			 Bedfordshire 13 15 11 14 17 19 16 27 22 
			 Cambridgeshire 11 8 8 8 8 7 7 8 9 
			 Cheshire 15 16 26 15 11 7 7 8 16 
			 Cleveland 9 9 6 4 4 3 3 3 4 
			 Cumbria 19 13 13 11 9 8 8 8 10 
			 Derbyshire 14 10 8 7 6 5 5 4 3 
			 Devon and 
			 Cornwall 38 36 32 29 22 11 14 18 20 
			 Dorset 24 19 17 20 17 15 15 14 11 
			 Durham 26 19 19 27 31 29 17 7 7 
			 Essex 13 12 10 8 6 6 10 11 9 
			 Gloucestershire 20 19 17 16 22 17 14 16 17 
			 Greater Manchester 24 16 9 7 7 8 21 22 31 
			 Hampshire 28 26 20 21 18 14 14 12 10 
			 Hertfordshire 31 29 30 26 28 25 24 27 33 
			 Humberside 18 19 20 17 14 17 18 15 13 
			 Kent 12 12 13 17 18 15 11 11 9 
			 Lancashire 33 27 23 16 12 13 9 10 10 
			 Leicestershire 22 16 11 17 20 22 11 9 11 
			 Lincolnshire 8 7 7 7 6 4 4 4 6 
			 London, City of 15 19 19 16 16 16 14 17 23 
			
			 Merseyside 49 28 16 16 17 17 13 12 17 
			 Metropolitan 8 6 8 13 12 13 13 11 10 
			 Norfolk 9 16 18 20 16 11 7 7 8 
			 Northamptonshire 18 20 20 20 17 21 26 23 25 
			 Northumbria 54 51 49 51 38 30 27 28 27 
			 North Yorkshire 35 43 37 35 22 16 15 16 17 
			 Nottinghamshire 32 40 40 43 29 25 27 29 28 
			 South Yorkshire 29 22 21 18 16 14 13 12 11 
			 Staffordshire 24 29 30 20 15 11 14 18 16 
			 Suffolk 20 18 17 14 14 9 8 7 9 
			 Surrey 17 19 19 16 15 13 11 14 13 
			 Sussex 16 16 16 15 11 10 11 11 9 
			 Thames Valley 12 10 11 12 14 17 15 16 17 
			 Warwickshire 34 29 18 13 12 12 10 12 13 
			 West Mercia 14 11 11 9 11 10 8 13 25 
			 West Midlands 34 40 35 29 18 14 25 23 28 
			 West Yorkshire 24 28 24 17 17 19 20 21 23 
			 Wiltshire 15 16 17 15 21 17 15 15 15 
			 Dyfed-Powys 17 16 17 15 14 9 12 10 11 
			 Gwent 9 13 12 12 10 10 10 10 10 
			 North Wales 11 11 10 12 12 12 10 10 11 
			 South Wales 22 20 18 17 16 11 13 13 15 
			 Total 16 15 14 13 13 12 13 12 13 
		
	
	(85) Since 1998 comparisons between the number of positive breath tests reported by each police force and the number of court proceedings for drink/driving related offences have indicated that there has been under-reporting in a number of forces. Appropriate adjustments have been made.
	
		Table B: Number of screening breath tests, by police force area, 19922000
		
			 England and Wales Percentages 
			 Police force area 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 
		
		
			 Avon and 
			 Somerset 5,400 4,000 3,800 6,700 15,100 16,000 19,700 19,200 15,800 
			 Bedfordshire 6,000 4,900 8,200 6,100 6,400 6,000 5,300 2,900 3,300 
			 Cambridgeshire 11,700 16,000 16,500 16,300 16,200 19,100 17,800 13,600 12,800 
			 Cheshire 9,400 12,300 8,200 15,300 21,300 25,500 23,300 20,500 15,800 
			 Cleveland 12,600 10,100 15,000 28,200 26,100 31,600 34,200 28,600 18,800 
			 Cumbria 5,000 6,000 7,000 7,800 9,800 11,200 9,400 7,100 6,100 
			 Derbyshire 9,100 14,700 17,000 20,500 28,600 34,500 35,700 49,200 52,000 
			 Devon and 
			 Cornwall 6,900 5,600 5,600 6,800 9,100 15,200 15,700 14,700 13,000 
			 Dorset 4,600 5,800 6,800 5,800 7,400 9,100 10,100 9,200 12,300 
			 Durham 5,800 6,700 6,900 4,500 4,100 4,300 7,400 12,700 15,300 
			 Essex 21,500 28,000 38,200 27,700 32,400 28,700 28,400 24,100 27,200 
			 Gloucestershire 3,700 2,700 4,200 5,200 7,000 9,400 9,300 8,300 8,200 
			 Greater Manchester 27,700 47,700 78,500 102,400 100,400 95,600 31,200 21,500 27,300 
			 Hampshire 9,900 10,200 14,100 17,000 18,200 25,000 27,300 31,600 35,200 
			 Hertfordshire 5,500 5,700 7,100 6,400 5,900 7,400 8,100 7,000 6,000 
			 Humberside 8,000 6,500 6,800 8,900 7,500 6,500 8,300 8,100 9,400 
			 Kent 20,200 17,200 17,000 9,200 8,100 9,100 27,500 32,700 32,200 
			 Lancashire 6,100 6,500 8,600 15,900 26,100 21,300 20,300 19,100 15,500 
			 Leicestershire 6,300 10,300 15,500 11,700 10,300 10,200 20,200 21,100 18,600 
			 Lincolnshire 12,600 12,600 11,600 15,600 15,800 20,200 25,900 21,000 12,100 
			 London, City of 2,200 2,800 4,400 3,300 4,500 3,600 3,300 1,700 1,100 
			 Merseyside 5,300 10,700 16,000 15,300 15,900 14,800 18,700 18,600 12,800 
			 Metropolitan 132,300 143,000 141,600 123,300 123,000 137,900 111,400 99,800 93,800 
			 Norfolk 7,700 3,900 3,500 4,200 5,500 9,200 12,400 11,600 9,100 
			 Northamptonshire 5,000 6,400 6,000 5,100 7,400 7,100 4,700 5,300 5,800 
			 Northumbria 4,600 5,500 6,100 5,800 8,400 11,900 12,200 12,500 12,700 
			
			 North Yorkshire 4,300 3,900 4,500 4,800 7,800 10,500 9,900 8,100 6,700 
			 Nottinghamshire 6,800 5,000 5,500 5,700 9,300 11,500 8,900 8,400 8,400 
			 South Yorkshire 6,500 9,400 11,300 11,000 13,300 14,200 12,600 16,100 19,200 
			 Staffordshire 6,800 4,600 5,300 6,300 9,700 13,800 15,400 10,100 7,700 
			 Suffolk 5,900 6,300 5,900 7,500 8,200 12,300 15,600 15,100 9,200 
			 Surrey 8,300 8,100 8,500 9,300 11,200 11,200 11,400 11,700 12,400 
			 Sussex 10,900 15,800 16,000 15,900 24,300 26,100 17,400 17,900 20,800 
			 Thames Valley 29,700 48,300 51,400 47,200 39,700 33,100 34,200 30,300 30,800 
			 Warwickshire 2,300 2,700 6,100 8,200 9,200 8,700 8,700 8,600 7,100 
			 West Mercia 17,500 18,500 18,400 19,900 18,100 18,300 19,100 12,300 8,900 
			 West Midlands 13,700 15,400 14,800 9,100 19,500 22,600 24,100 21,300 16,200 
			 West Yorkshire 14,500 10,600 11,800 15,800 19,500 23,300 22,900 18,800 18,300 
			 Wiltshire 8,200 8,000 8,000 10,000 6,300 7,400 7,100 6,800 6,500 
			 Dyfed-Powys 5,400 4,300 4,500 5,000 5,900 8,500 9,200 9,900 7,400 
			 Gwent 6,800 6,000 5,600 4,900 9,300 12,200 11,200 10,600 10,100 
			 North Wales 16,100 13,400 15,900 14,900 14,900 13,300 15,200 15,900 15,000 
			 South Wales 12,400 13,400 10,400 12,200 14,900 23,100 24,900 20,700 17,800 
			 Total 531,300 599,600 678,500 702,700 781,100 860,400 815,500 764,500 714,800 
		
	
	Source:
	Home Office (RDS/CCJU) 19 July 2002.

Criminal Checks

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests have been received from (a) local authorities and (b) others for Criminal Reference Bureau checks on job applicants, what the (i) average and (ii) longest delay in response has been; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: As at 10 July, a total of 236,191 applications have been received by the Criminal Records Bureau for criminal record checks. Information relating to the number of applications received from local authorities and the delays in responding is not available in the format requested. I will write to my hon. Friend when the information becomes accessible.
	Measures continue to be taken to overcome the early operating difficulties experienced by the Bureau, which have led to delays in responding to applications. The Criminal Records Bureau is determined to meet the high standards of service that it has made clear it will deliver to its customers, and expects to see increasing service improvements during the coming weeks.

Home Detention Curfew

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners since 1 January have been released on the home detention curfew scheme broken down by (a) homicide and attempted homicide, (b) other violence against the person, (c) drug offences, (d) assaults and (e) other offences; what the average sentence (i) received and (ii) served and the average period spent on the scheme was in respect of each offence; how many prisoners in each of the above categories have (A) breached the conditions of the curfew, (B) disappeared and been recaptured, (C) disappeared and remain unlawfully at large and (D) had their licences revoked with reasons; what the offences committed by prisoners released on the scheme were while on the scheme, including offences committed by prisoners who committed more than one offence; and what the offences committed by prisoners released on the scheme who committed a further offence while on the scheme that was similar in character to that for which they were originally convicted were, including offences committed by prisoners who committed more than one offence; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: I will write to the hon. Member.

Age of Consent

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is intended to lower the age of consent, following the consultation Setting the Boundaries; Reforming the Law on Sex Offences.

Hilary Benn: The independent review body on reforming the law on sex offences recommended that the age of consent should remain at 16.

Paedophile Sex Offenders

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of convicted paedophile sex offenders re-offended after release from prison in each of the last 10 years.

Hilary Benn: Re-offending rates are not normally measured as they rely on the self-reporting of offending by offenders. Such an approach can lead to questions over the reliability of data based on individuals' recollection and willingness to impart their offending behaviour to an official source.
	However two year reconviction rates for persons discharged from prison after serving a sentence for a sexual offence are collected and published annually in Prison Statistics, copies of which are available in the Library.

Sex Offenders Register

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women are registered on the Sex Offenders Register.

Hilary Benn: The Sex Offenders Act 1997 requires offenders cautioned for, convicted of, or found not guilty by reason of insanity of an offence specified in Schedule One to the Act to provide certain details to the police. There is, however, no register of sex offenders, as such; nor are sex offenders subject to the requirements of the Act separately identified as such in criminal statistics.
	Until recently, data on the number of sex offenders subject to the requirements of the Act was collated biannually on a national basis from the police national computer. However this arrangement has been overtaken following guidance issued by the Home Office in respect of the provisions in section 67 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000. The guidance requires information about the number of sex offenders subject to the Act's requirements in each police area to be published on an annual basis starting in 2002. These local reports will be published over the next few weeks. A national report published on 22 July 2002 contained a consolidated total figure of 18,513 registered sex offenders in England and Wales as at 31 March 2002.
	Information broken down by gender is not available.

Tobacco (Under-age Sales)

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many convictions relating to the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products from retail outlets to underage persons there were in the last five years in the UK;
	(2)  how many prosecutions relating to the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products from retail outlets to underage persons there were in the last five years in the UK.

John Denham: The information requested, relating to England and Wales for the years 1996 to 2000, is shown in the table.
	Statistics for 2001 will be available in the autumn.
	Figures for Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for the Scottish Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly respectively.
	
		Defendants proceeded against and those found guilty at all courts of offences relating to the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products to underage persons England and Wales 1996 to 2000(86),(87)
		
			 Offence description Statute Year Persons proceeded against Persons found guilty 
		
		
			 Sale of tobacco etc. to persons under 16 Children and Young Persons Act 1933 1996 131 111 
			  Section 7 as amended by Children and 1997 130 112 
			  Young Persons (Protection from Tobacco) 1998 166 129 
			  Act 1991 Section 1. 1999 127 102 
			   2000 161 134 
			 Sale of unpackaged cigarettes Children and Young Persons (Protection from Tobacco) Act 1991 Section 1. 1996 6 6 
			   1997 2 2 
			   1998 3 2 
			   1999 3 3 
			   2000 1 1 
			 Total  1996 137 117 
			   1997 132 114 
			   1998 169 131 
			   1999 130 105 
			   2000 162 135 
		
	
	(86) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(87) Staffordshire Police were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates' courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust enough at a detailed level and have been excluded from the table.

Paedophiles (Name Changes)

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to prevent convicted paedophiles from changing their name by (a) deed poll and (b) other legal routes.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 15 July 2002
	It is a criminal offence for a sex offender required to register under Part I of the Sex Offender Act 1997 to change his name or address and not to notify the police of this change. The maximum penalty for failure to do this is five years' imprisonment.

Alcohol (Under-Age Sales)

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many prosecutions relating to the sale of alcohol to underage persons (a) by retailers and (b) from licensed premises there were in the last five years in the UK.
	(2)  how many convictions relating to the sale of alcohol to underage persons (a) by retailers and (b) from licensed premises there were in the last five years in the UK.

John Denham: The available information, relating to England and Wales for the years 1996 to 2000, is shown in the table.
	Statistics for 2001 will be available in the autumn.
	Figures for Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for the Scottish Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly respectively.
	
		Defendants proceeded against and those found guilty at all courts for offences relating to the sale of alcohol to underage persons England and Wales 1996 to 2000 (88),(89)
		
			  
		
		
			 Offence description Statute Year Persons proceeded against Persons found guilty 
			 Selling etc., intoxicating liquor to Licensing Act, 1964, Section 169(1); Licensing 1996 251 119 
			 Persons under 18 for consumption on (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983, Schedule 1997 214 125 
			 the premises (Sec. 3) para. 4(1). 1998 310 157 
			   1999 204 115 
			   2000 130 56 
			 Person under 18 buying or Licensing Act, 1964, Section 169(2), Licensing 1996 33 19 
			 consuming intoxicating liquor in (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983, Schedule 1997 31 24 
			 licensed premises (Sec. 3) para. 4(2). 1998 39 24 
			   1999 38 21 
			   2000 24 22 
			 Wholesaler selling intoxicating liquor Licensing Act 1964, Sec. 181A(1) as added by 1996   
			 to a person under 18 Licensing Act 1988, Sec17. 1997 1 1 
			   1998 1 1 
			   1999 1  
			   2000 2 1 
			 Person under 18 buying or attempting Licensing Act 1964, Sec. 181A(3) as added by 1996 1 1 
			 to buy intoxicating liquor from Licensing Act 1988, Sec. 17. 1997 1  
			 wholesale premises  1998 2 1 
			   1999   
			   2000   
		
	
	(88) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(89) Staffordshire Police were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates' courts for the year 2000.
	Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust enough at a detailed level and have been excluded from the table.

Crime (Avon and Somerset)

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what change there has been in the levels of crime in each category in the Avon and Somerset Police Authority between 200001 and 200102.

John Denham: holding answer 16 July 2002
	As the requested data relates to a police single police force area, details from the British Crime Survey, which estimates people's actual experience of crime, are not available.
	Percentage changes between 200001 and 200102 for the numbers of offences in the major categories of recorded crimes by police force area have been published in Table 7.03 of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin Crime in England and Wales 20012002, which is available in the Library. The overall figures for Avon and Somerset are as follows:
	
		Crimes Recorded by the Police Avon and Somerset
		
			 Offence April 2000 to March 01 April 01 To March 02 Change Percentage Change 
		
		
			 Violence against the person   2,310 15 
			  15,376 17,686   
			 Sexual offences 930  165 18 
			   1,095   
			 Robbery   2,124 77 
			  2,765 4,889   
			 Total violent crime   4,599 24 
			  19,071 23,670   
			 Burglary   7,060 27 
			  25,805 32,865   
			 Theft and handling   12,874 19 
			  69,605 82,479   
			 Fraud and forgery   883 10 
			  9,211 10,094   
			 Criminal damage   4,511 20 
			  22,479 26,990   
			 Drug offences   -130 -7 
			  1,990 1,860   
			 Other offences   -60 -5 
			  1,093 1,033   
		
	
	Some police forces, such as Avon and Somerset, adopted the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) in advance of the national implementation in April 2002. Changes in crime statistics in these forces will be strongly influenced by the changes in recording practice, and the impact will vary for different types of offences. Details of the impact of the recording changes are included in chapter three of the above bulletin.

Specialist Police Officers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many specialist police officers are expected to be trained in the use of baton guns by the end of 2002; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: The information is not held centrally.

Policing (Sussex)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how much of the street crime, counter-terrorism, policing and prisons package announced on 1 May will be available to Sussex Police; and for what purpose;
	(2)  how much of the additional funding for policing in the South East announced by his Department on 10 June will be made available for (a) Sussex Police and (b) improving security at Shoreham Airport.

John Denham: holding answer 18 July 2002
	The additional counter terrorist funding announced following the budget was additional and complementary to existing funding streams for ports security and counter terrorist operations. The sums allocated were the result of full consultation between individual forces, the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Home Office. Sussex Police already receive funding through established routes for airport security within the police authority area. Shoreham Airport is policed by resources already in place.
	In addition to extra funding for ports security and counter terrorist operations announced on 10 June, we also announced extra funding for 10 forces taking part in the Government's crackdown on street crime. These 10 forces account for 82 per cent. of robbery across the country. Sussex is not among these 10.

Criminal Justice

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what criteria the level of public confidence in the criminal justice system is to be measured under the 2002 Public Service Agreement for which he is reponsible; and, using the same criteria, what the level of public confidence was in each of the last five years.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 19 July 2002
	Responses to six questions in the British Crime Survey (BCS) will be taken as indicating the state of public confidence in the criminal justice system. The relevant questions are whether the public is confident that the criminal justice system:
	 respects the rights of the accused and treats them fairly;
	 is effective in bringing people who commit crimes to justice;
	 deals with cases promptly and efficiently;
	 meets the needs of victims;
	 is effective in reducing crime;
	 is effecting in dealing with young people.
	A target was set for the first time in SR2000 and we therefore do not have information before that period. Our first set of findings (31 January 2001) were:
	 69 per cent. of people are confident that the system respects the rights of the accused and treats them fairly (the confidence rates were 70 per cent. for white people, 52 per cent. for black people and 66 per cent. for Asians);
	 46 per cent. are confident that it is effective in bringing people who commit crimes to justice (46 per cent. white, 51 per cent. black and 55 per cent. Asian);
	 34 per cent. are confident it deals with cases promptly and efficiently (34 per cent. white, 38 per cent. black and 48 per cent. Asian);
	 26 per cent. are confident it meets the needs of victims (25 per cent. white, 37 per cent. black and 42 per cent. Asian).
	New questions, which address crime reduction and tackling youth crime, were included in the most recent survey and findings will be published in the Autumn. Therefore, due to changes in the collation of the BCS, we do not have two sets of directly comparable data available.

Probation Service

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the 2002 pay settlement for the National Probation Service will be implemented.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 19 July 2002
	The pay settlement for the National Probation Service is currently awaiting approval and an announcement is expected shortly.

Probation Service

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many permanent posts have been frozen for budgetary reasons in the London probation area in 200203.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 19 July 2002
	There are 2,137 full time employees in the London Probation Area, 530 part-time employees, 89 on temporary contract and 80 agency staff. 69 new Trainee Probation Officers will be employed this financial year.
	The London Probation Area is an amalgamation of the five former London Probation Boards. Against the previous establishment figures of the five Boards the amalgamated Area is holding vacancies of two hundred and forty-nine posts or approximately 10 per cent. of the old establishment figure.
	The Area is presently working with the Unions and the National Probation Directorate to develop a workload measurement tool that will identify the staffing needs of the Area. It was understood early in the amalgamation process that there would be duplication of certain functions that would allow for reductions in staffing levels. The vacancies are being maintained until the workload measurement tool identifies the precise needs of the Area.

Home Detention Curfew Scheme

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many participants were in the home detention curfew scheme in (a) January, (b) February and (c) March.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 22 July 2002
	The numbers of prisoners on Home Detention Curfew on the Friday of each week during January, February and March 2002 were as follows:
	
		
			 Date Caseload 
		
		
			 4 January 1,672 
			 11 January 1,686 
			 18 January 1,675 
			 25 January 1,672 
			 1 February 1,694 
			 8 February 1,707 
			 15 February 1,688 
			 22 February 1,707 
			 1 March 1,783 
			 8 March 1,821 
			 15 March 1,872 
			 22 March 1,918 
			 29 March 1,965

Drugs

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals were (a) cautioned and (b) arrested for (i) possession and (ii) supply of (A) heroin, (B) crack, (C) cocaine, (D) ecstasy and (E) cannabis by each police force in June.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 22 July 2002
	Statistics on cautions and arrests for 2002 will be published by December 2003. Counts of arrests are only available centrally by broad offence group (in this case for the group drug offences) and quarter.

Crime Reduction Initiatives

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the population in each police authority's area benefit from each of his crime reduction initiatives which has not been subject to national roll-out.

John Denham: holding answer 22 July 2002
	It is not possible to estimate, with accuracy the proportion of any specific population that will benefit from many crime reduction initiatives, but the population as a whole will have benefited from the reduction in crime achieved since 1997.

Asylum Removal

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what lessons have been learned by his Department from the Yarl's Wood fire incident; and how those have been incorporated into the site search and assessment criteria for asylum removals centres.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 22 July 2002
	We await the recommendations of the Home Office inquiry into the incident, which will also take into account those of the Bedfordshire County Council, the Bedfordshire Police and the Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Double Jeopardy

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which crimes will be affected by the new double jeopardy proposal.

Hilary Benn: The proposal contained in the White Paper, Justice for All, published on 17 July 2002 would allow the Court of Appeal to quash an acquittal only where there is compelling new evidence of an acquitted defendant's guilt, and following the approval of the Director of Public Prosecutions for that defendant to be re-investigated and for an application subsequently to be submitted to the Court of Appeal.
	This would apply to a limited range of very serious offences such as murder, rape, manslaughter and armed robbery. We will publish our detailed legislative proposals in due course.

Remanded Children

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children remanded to prison were subsequently (a) found not guilty by the courts and (b) not given a custodial sentence, broken down by age, in each year since 1995.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 23 July 2002
	Information on remands is collected centrally for the Home Office, but it is not possible to reliably disaggregate the data by age to this level.

Heroin

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what method his Department uses to estimate the level of availability of heroin on the streets.

Bob Ainsworth: Heroin availability can be defined and measured in a variety of ways. The clandestine nature of drugs supply and consumption also mean that definitive figures on heroin availability are not possible. However, the Home Office has produced figures on the size of the United Kingdom (UK) heroin market.
	The method for producing these figures draws on general population surveys, and on the urine testing and surveying of arrestees in police custody. These allow estimates to be produced on the total number of regular heroin users, frequency of heroin consumption and level of consumption. A figure can then be calculated for total amount of heroin consumed and therefore an overall estimate for the value of the UK heroin market.
	A more detailed outline of the above method and the estimates produced can be found in Sizing the UK Market for Illicit Drugs (Home Office Research Development Statistics Occasional Paper No 74. 2001). A copy of this report has been placed in the Library and is available on www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/index.html.

Heroin

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of heroin-using offenders in (a) England, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) Bassetlaw re-offended in the last 12 months.

Bob Ainsworth: Information on the proportion of heroin-using offenders re-offending is not held at the detailed level requested.
	Numbers of prisoners in England and Wales re-convicted, by offence for which originally convicted and offence on first reconviction, within two years of discharge from prison in 1997 are contained in Table 9.8 of Prison statistics England and Wales 2000.
	Details of level of illegal income by type of drug, and self reported crime by type of drug are reported in Chapters 7 and 8 of Home Office Research Study 205 Drugs and crime: The results of the second developmental stage of the New England and Wales Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (NEW-ADAM) programme. This study reports outcomes from pilot sites (including Nottingham) participating in the NEW-ADAM Programme.
	Copies of these documents are available in the Library.

Child Prison Suicides

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many child suicides in prisons there were, broken down by (a) age and (b) prison in each year since 1990.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 23 July 2002
	The available information is set out in the tables. The number of self-inflicted deaths of young prisoners from 1990 to 2002 (to 17 July 2002) are shown in Table 1.
	
		Table 1: Self-Inflicted Deaths of Young Prisoners by Year: 19902002*
		
			  15 16 17 18 Total 
		
		
			 1990 0 2 1 4 7 
			 1991 1 0 0 1 2 
			 1992 0 1 0 2 3 
			 1993 0 0 1 0 1 
			 1994 0 0 2 3 5 
			 1995 0 1 0 1 2 
			 1996 0 0 1 4 5 
			 1997 0 0 0 5 5 
			 1998 0 0 3 6 9 
			 1999 0 0 2 2 4 
			 2000 0 0 3 3 6 
			 2001 0 3 0 2 5 
			 2002 0 1 0 0 1 
			  1 8 13 33 55 
		
	
	* Up to and including 17 July 2002
	The Prison Service employs the term self-inflicted death (which includes all those deaths where it appears that the person may have acted specifically to take his/her own life) rather than suicide.
	Table 2 shows the overall number of self-inflicted deaths of young prisoners in establishments during each of the last 13 years.
	
		Table 2: Self-Inflicted Deaths of Young Prisoners by Prison: 19902002*
		
			 Establishment 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Totals 
		
		
			 Altcourse 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 
			 Aylesbury 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 
			 Brinsford 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 1 0 5 
			 Brixton 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Cardiff 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Deerbolt 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Doncaster 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 4 
			 Exeter 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Feltham 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 6 
			 Glen Parva 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 3 
			 Gloucester 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 
			 Hindley 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 0 8 
			 Leeds 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Lewes 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Low Newton 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 5 
			 Moorland 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Parc 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Portland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Reading 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 
			 Stoke Heath 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 Swansea 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 
			 Swinfen Hall 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 
			 Wetherby 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 3 
			 Totals 7 2 3 1 5 2 5 5 9 4 6 5 1 55 
		
	
	*Up to and including 17 July 2002.

Children in Care (Offenders)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of (a) registered young offenders, (b) registered offenders, (c) young offenders resident in youth offender institutions, (d) offenders resident in adult prisons, (e) persons convicted of drug-related offences and (f) persons convicted of violent crimes are known to have a history of being in care.

Hilary Benn: No data are held centrally on the upbringing of persons in prisons in England and Wales. This means that it is not possible to provide specific answers to questions (a) to (f). However, according to the Criminality Survey 2000, 31 per cent. of the sentenced male prison population (excluding sex offenders) had been taken into local authority care as a child.
	In 1997, a survey was carried out by the Office for National Statistics, called Psychiatric Morbidity Among Prisoners in England and Wales. A sample of around 1,200 male remand, 1,200 male sentenced and 800 female prisoners were interviewed. 33 per cent. of the males on remand and 26 per cent. of the males under sentence had been taken into local authority care as a child. 29 per cent. of the females on remand and 25 per cent. of the females under sentence had also been taken into local authority care as a child.
	According to the National Prison Survey 1991, when interviews were conducted with around 4,000 sentenced and remand prisoners (juveniles and immigration detainees were excluded): 26 per cent. said that they had at some point before the age of 16 been taken into local authority care. As many as 38 per cent. of prisoners under 21 reported that they had had such an experience.

Children in Care (Offenders)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which statutory body has responsibility for the welfare of children in care who have been committed to a young offender institution or adult prison; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The Prison Service, on behalf of the Secretary of State for the Home Department, has responsibility for the day-to-day welfare needs of everyone who is committed to a young offender institution or adult prison, including those who are looked after children.

Communications Data (Access)

Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he has made for consultation on the regulation of access to communications data.

David Blunkett: holding answer 23 July 2002
	We are considering how best to carry out the consultation exercise on the regulation of access to communications data to ensure a wide-ranging and detailed debate of the issues raised and how to balance the individual's right to privacy with legitimate arrangements to safeguard national security and protect the public.

Correspondence

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Woking dated 13 June regarding Dayekh reference D1056360.

Beverley Hughes: I wrote to the hon. Friend on 24 July 2002.

Retail Crime

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much of the 15 million grant funding to help retailers tackle crime in deprived areas has been allocated; to whom it has been allocated and over what time period.

John Denham: The 15 million from the Capital Modernisation Fund for the Small Retailers in Deprived Areas initiative has been made available in annual instalments of 3 million in 200102, 6 million in 200203 and 6 million in 200304. Apart from a small amount set aside for administration and evaluation, all this money has been allocated to regional Crime Reduction Directors, as in the table.
	
		
			 Region 200102 200203 200304 Total () 
		
		
			 Eastern 196,620 393,475 393,475 983,570 
			 East Midlands 236,060 471,052 471,052 1,178,164 
			 London 454,720 910,515 910,515 2,275,750 
			 North East 248,530 496,244 496,244 1,241,018 
			 North West 470,670 942,209 942,209 2,355,088 
			 South East 246,500 493,580 493,580 1,233,660 
			 South West 194,300 389,604 389,604 973,508 
			 Wales 190,820 381,257 381,257 953,334 
			 West Midlands 333,210 666,182 666,182 1,665,574 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 327,410 655,882 655,882 1,639,174 
		
	
	For more details about the scheme, and the funding formula used, I would refer the hon. Member to the Written Answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockport (Ann Coffey) on 6 February 2002, Official Report, column 984W.
	I placed in the Library at the same time a paper showing the allocation of funds to individual projects for 200102. I hope to announce shortly the projects we shall be funding in 200203.

Retail Crime

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to make retail crime a best value indicator for police force performance.

John Denham: The Best Value Performance Indicators (BVPIs) for 200203 came into effect on 1 April 2002, following consultation with the Association of Police Authorities and the Association of Chief Police Officers. Following the Home Secretary's commitment in September last year to halve the number of indicators, there are currently 18 BVPIs as compared with 32 in 200102.
	Whilst we have no plans to introduce an additional national performance indicator on retail crime, a police authority would be able to set a local performance indicator relating to retail crime should this be a particular problem locally.

Police (Compensation Claims)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of the public have been prosecuted this year for making fraudulent and malicious compensation claims against the police; and what range of penalties was imposed.

John Denham: holding answer 18 July 2002
	The information requested cannot be distinguished in the court statistics collected centrally from other offences of fraud.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued in West Sussex, broken down by local authority area.

John Denham: holding answer 18 July 2002
	Anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) were introduced from 1 April 1999. The data given in the table covers the period up to the end of December 2001 (latest available).
	We are currently considering whether any further checks are needed to ensure the accuracy of the number of ASBOs reported.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many compensation claims, and at what financial cost, have been made against (a) Sussex Police and (b) the Metropolitan Police in each year since 1999.

John Denham: holding answer 18 July 2002
	The Home Office does not collect this information centrally. Information is compiled by forces according to their own management needs and is not therefore directly comparable. Information provided by the forces is as follows:
	
		(a) Sussex Constabulary -- (i) Civil claims: public liability (wrongful arrest, false imprisonment and damage to property) and employer liability
		
			  Civil Claims in Financial Years 
			  19992000 200001 200102 
		
		
			 Claims closed 258 308 295 
			 Dismissed 36 65 28 
			 Not proceeded with 144 169 191 
			 Settled 77 69 74 
			 Judgement for claimant 1 5 2 
			 Payments () 224,776 166,609 155,342 
		
	
	
		(ii) Employment Tribunals
		
			 Claims in Calendar Years 
			  1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Claims received 9 6 6 
			 Dismissed 2 2 1 
			 Withdrawn 3 1 3 
			 Settled 4 3 2 
			 Judgement for claimant 0 0 0 
			 Payments () 0 29,000 22,000 
		
	
	
		(b) Metropolitan Police Service -- (i) Employer liability and damage to property
		
			  Number of Claims Numbers of Claims Amount Paid (million) 
		
		
			 19992000 2,800 3,600 7.0 
			 200001 2,700 3,150 7.0 
			 200102 2,450 2,900 10.1 
			 (incl. 5 million provision against future claims) 
		
	
	(ii) Civil actions and damages: the following tables relate to actions against the police by members of the public for wrongful arrest, false imprisonment etc.
	
		
			 Civil Actions received in financial years 
			  19992000 200001 200102 
		
		
			 Actions 164 190 157 
			 Threatened actions 633 503 439 
		
	
	
		
			 Damages paid in financial years 
			  19992000 200001 200102 
			  No of Cases Cost (k) No of Cases Cost (k) No of Cases Cost (k) 
		
		
			 Out of court settlements 413 3,703 220 2,318 129 1,261 
			 Court awards 22 203 15 340 6 125 
		
	
	(iii) Employment Tribunals
	
		
			  19992000 200001 200102 
		
		
			 Claims Settled 386,970 531,764 129,574 
			 Tribunal Awards 14,652 363,085 0 
			 Totals 401,622 894,849 129,574 
		
	
	
		
			 Number of Cases with financial settlement 
		
		
			 Claims Settled 17 18 18 
			 Tribunal Awards 2 2 0 
			 Totals 19 20 18

Parliamentary Questions

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will answer the question from the hon. Member for Maidenhead of 8 March on the number of functioning police stations.

John Denham: With apologies for the delay in responding I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 22 July 2002 Official Report, column 829W.

Policing (Bromley)

John Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police served in (a) the London Borough of Bromley and (b) the Orpington sector of Bromley; and what the establishment figure was in each year since 1996.

John Denham: The information in the table has been provided by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. Figures for the Orpington Sector of Bromley are not available.
	The budgeted strength is not an establishment figure. Differences between actual and budgeted strength have a variety of causes. They may arise because patterns of recruitment to and wastage from the police service are different or because targets for strength at the end of the financial year reflect planned changes in strength, for example the allocation of officers recruited through the Crime Fighting Fund.
	
		
			 Year Budgeted Workforce Total in Bromley Strength 
		
		
			 December 1996 479 471 
			 December 1997 Not Available 464 
			 December 1998 Not Available 443 
			 December 1999 440 432 
			 December 2000 440 412 
			 January 2002 458 424

Departmental Policies (Northamptonshire)

Tony Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Northamptonshire, the effects on the town of Northampton of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

John Denham: The Home Office is working with individuals and communities to build a safe, just and tolerant society enhancing opportunities for all and in which rights and responsibilities go hand in hand and the protection and security of the public are maintained and enhanced. Detailed information on the impact of Home Office policies across the full range of responsibilities is set out in Home Office Annual Reports. A copy of the most recent report, Home Office Annual Report 200102, is available in the Library. Information on crime levels is contained in the publication: Crime in England and Wales 200102, which can be found in the Library.
	These statistics provide information specifically relating to Northampton and to Northamptonshire. A number of Home Office initiatives funded under the Crime Reduction Programme will have an impact on crime levels in Northamptonshire, including some with specific reference to Northampton, for example;
	Reducing Burglary Initiative: Three schemes funded to the value of 178,390, including a  72,000 scheme in Northampton. Targeted Policing Initiative: A county-wide scheme for tackling vehicle crime using Automatic Number Plate Reading technology1,095,000.
	Violence Against Women: a 225,706 domestic violence project in Northampton.
	Close Circuit Television (CCTV): 383,285 on three CCTV schemes covering Northampton town centre, car parks and housing estates.
	In addition, funding of 410,200 under the Communities Against Drugs Initiative and 80,608 under the Safer Communities Initiative has been made available to the Northampton Crime and Disorder reduction partnership. Northamptonshire partnerships have also received 51,500 under the Partnership Development Fund.
	Further information on the Home Office and its policies is published on its website. (www.homeoffice.gov.uk).

Prisoners (CAB Advice)

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on pilot schemes funded by the Community Legal Service to support Citizens Advice Bureau staff to advise prisoners on (a) welfare benefits and (b) debt management.

Rosie Winterton: I have been asked to reply. 
	I apologise for the delay in replying this was due to an administrative error. As part of the ongoing development of the Community Legal Service, the Legal Services Commission is exploring projects to support advice to prisoners on legal matters. Specifically this includes work with the Kent Probation Project, based at the Tunbridge Wells area office for the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, which is supporting the needs of prisoners in Kent. In addition all prisons in England and Wales have been supplied with a full set of Community Legal Service Legal Information Leaflets and an increasing number of prisons are formally applying to be quality marked as Community Legal Service Information Points.

Emergency Services (Radios)

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice his Department issues to police authorities on the need to ensure interoperability of radio systems with other emergency services.

John Denham: Interoperability between emergency services is, at present, arranged locally by each force and the Home Office provides the radio channels necessary for communication between operational commanders at major incidents. Full interoperability is one of the potential operational benefits of Airwave, the new police radio communications service. The other emergency services have the option of either joining the Airwave service or arranging interoperability between their separate networks.
	The Home Office is promoting agreement between the three emergency services on the level of interoperability necessary to ensure public safety.

Police Funding (Surrey)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what change there has been in funds allocated by his Department to Surrey Police in real terms since 1997.

John Denham: The information is set out in the table.
	
		
			  Government Grant (cash) (1) (real) (3) Real terms change Additional Home Office funding (including special grant, capital, DNA and other payments) (4) 
			  m m  per cent. m 
		
		
			 199798 75.6 83.1  2.2 
			 199899 67.7 72.5 -12.7 1.9 
			 199900 74.7 78.1 7.7 1.7 
			 200001 89.6 91.6 17.3 3.6 
			 200102 87.6 87.6 -4.3 4.2 
			 200203 87.0 84.9 1.2 (5) 
			 (2)1.2 
		
	
	1. Total Government Grant includes Home Office Police grant, Revenue Support Grant, National Non Domestic Rates, Crime Fighting Fund and Rural Policing Fund Grant. Surrey gained resources following changes in boundaries of the Metropolitan Police District in April 2000. Grant also includes provision to offset costs incurred in transitional arrangements: 7.0 million in 19992000, 5.5 million in 200001, 1.61 million in 200102 and 0.8 million for 200203.
	2. The reduction in grant in 200203 reflects a shift from local to central financing of National Crime Squad (NCS) National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) from 1 April 2002. However, on a like-for-like basis, government grant in 200203 shows a 2.2 per cent. increase in cash terms or 1.2 per cent. increase in real terms compared to 200102. Actual cash figures with the like-for-like percentage change are included above.
	3. Real terms figures are given at 200102 prices (GDP deflator)
	4. The additional payments were specific to particular years, and have therefore been excluded from the year-on-year comparison.
	5. Capital grant only.
	In addition, under the Crime Reduction Programme over 3.7 million has been allocated since 1999 to Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships for projects in Surrey.

Urban Regeneration

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what schemes targeting urban regeneration needs are managed by his Department; how much each scheme has available to invest; what issues each scheme aims to tackle; and how much has been spent annually since 1997 (a) in the United Kingdom, (b) in Teesside, (c) in Redcar and Cleveland and Middlesbrough Councils and, (d) in the Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland constituency.

John Denham: The Home Office makes a contribution to urban regeneration through a number of schemes which reduce crime, tackle drugs and drug-related crime, encourage community development and support racial equality. Relevant information that is currently available includes:
	
		Crime Reduction Programme -- A range of schemes to reduce burglary, install Close Circuit Televisionn (CCTV), prevent violence against women etc. 350 million has been committed nationally to over 1,500 schemes since 1999. The requested local figures are:
		
			 Area Total No Schemes 200001 200102 200203 
		
		
			 Teesside 2,031,345 22 649.766 1,063.313 318,266 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 733,500 7 166,348 458,152 109,000 
			 Middlesbrough 866,195 11 185,299 478,422 209,266 
			 Stockton 424,858 4 298,119 136,739  
			 Middlesbrough South/Cleveland 606,200 5 154.048 395,152 57,000 
		
	
	
		Communities Against Drugs -- A programme to tackle drug related crime, drug supply and to strengthen communities. Nationally there is 50/70/100 million available in the three years 200104200102
		
			   
		
		
			 Total funding 50,000,000 
			 Teesside 494,800 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 121,600 
			 Middlesbrough 210,300 
			 Stockton 162,900 
		
	
	
		Security For Small Retailers In Deprived Areas -- 200102
		
			   
		
		
			 Total funding 2,900,00 
			 North East Region 248,530 
			 Teesside 112,000 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 28,000 
			 Middlesborough 50,000 
			 Stockton 34,000 
		
	
	
		Youth Inclusion Schemes -- These are targeted at the young people most at risk of offending in the area of the scheme.
		
			 Area Total No Schemes 200001 200102 200203 
		
		
			 Redcar and Cleveland 130,000 1 0 65,000 65,000 
			 Middlesbrough 162,125 1 25,125 68,500 68,500 
			 Stockton 187,250 1 50,250 68,500 68,500 
		
	
	
		Section 11 Grant -- Enabled local authorities which had a significant number of minority ethnic origin resident in its area to employ additional staff.
		
			  199798 199899 
		
		
			 England and Wales 84,690,663 87,578,663 
			 Teesside Not Available 424,030 
			 Middlesbrough Not Available 275,464 
			 Stockton-on-Tees Not Available 118,783 
			 Redcar and Cleveland Not Available 29,783 
			 County of Cleveland 427,996 439,123 
		
	
	
		Connecting Communities -- There are four race equality support programmes:Community NetworksOpportunity SchemesTowards More Representative ServicesPositive Images
		
			  200001 200102 (to date) 
		
		
			 All projects 1,761,267 2,577,627 
			 Middlesbrough 5,396 7,944 
		
	
	Police numbers
	Figures for police numbers and spending are available nationally and for the Cleveland Authority. They are not available for individual councils or parliamentary constituencies.
	On 31 January this year there were 128,748 police officers in England and Wales, a record number and 4,578 more than in March 2000. Spending by the police has increased by 1.27 billion (+ 17.9 per cent.) since 1997 to 8.361 billion in 200203.
	Between March 2000 and January 2002 police numbers in the Cleveland Police increased by 33 to 1,437. The increase in numbers has been made possible by the extra recruits allocated to the Cleveland Police under the Crime Fighting Fund over the three years to March 2003. Cleveland Police has been allocated a total of 74 Crime Fighting Fund recruits. 20 were recruited in 200001 and 36 were recruited in 200102. The force is expected to take on a further 18 Crime Fighting Fund recruits in 200203. Spending on policing by the Cleveland Police Authority has increased by 24 per cent. (+ 18.57 million) since 1997 and now totals 95.13 million for 200203.

Offence Statistics

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many offences were reported in the Metropolitan police force area between (a) April to November 2000 and (b) April to November 2001;
	(2)  how many street crimes there were in the Metropolitan Police Force area in (a) April to November 2000 and (b) April to November 2001.

John Denham: holding answer 15 January 2002
	Home Office recorded crime statistics for the whole years ending March 2001 and 2002 are given in the table. Rather than using the Metropolitan Police's category of Street Crime, recorded robberies of personal property are given.
	
		Metropolitan Police areaNumber of recorded crimes
		
			  Years ending March  
			  2001 2002 
		
		
			 Total recorded crime 994,233 1,057,360 
			 Robbery of personal property 37,023 49,446

Wheel Clamping

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will amend the regulations in order to improve the clarity of signs relating to the clamping of cars on private roads.

John Denham: holding answer 21 January 2002
	Currently there are no regulations governing signs relating to clamping on private roads. However, last year the Government introduced the Private Security Industry Act 2001. The Act specifies the creation of a Security Industry Authority. It is hoped that the authority, which will regulate the industry through licensing, will begin operations in 2003; it will have wheel-clamping as one of its priority areas.
	In the meantime, those who believe their vehicles have been unfairly clamped can have cases against wheel clampers heard in civil courts.

Civil Disturbances (West Yorkshire)

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding the costs to West Yorkshire Police of dealing with civil disturbances in the current financial year; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the question of 31 October 2001, tabled by the hon. Member for Pudsey (Reference 12532).

John Denham: I apologise for not responding to my hon. Friend more promptly. The Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police (Graham Moore QPM) made representations on 24 October 2001 requesting a special grant to assist with the policing costs of the Bradford disturbances in July of last year. I also received a number of representations from hon. Members.
	On 30 January I announced that the Home Secretary had approved a special grant of 2.2 million as a contribution to the additional cost of policing the Bradford disturbances. This grant covered 64 per cent. of the additional policing costs incurred by West Yorkshire Police. It was decided to treat all applications for assistance arising out of last year's summer riots with equal fairness. Similar special grants for around two thirds of additional policing costs were also paid to the Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Staffordshire forces.
	The West Yorkshire Police Authority has also received 35 claims for compensation under the Riot (Damages) Act 1886 totalling 7.3 million. I understand that 12 claims totalling 46,419 have been settled and three further claims have been rejected. The largest claims are still under consideration by the Authority. It is open to the police authority to seek further grant support when the final impact on the force is known. Any application would be considered against the criteria for such matters.

Police (Havering)

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give funding for additional police officers in Havering to meet the demands of its late night entertainment centre.

John Denham: We made clear in the White Paper Policing a New Century: A Blueprint for Reform that we are concerned about the costs incurred in policing entertainment venues, particularly pubs and clubs. We restated the Government's position on charging in the Government's reply to the Home Affairs Select Committee's report into the Police Reform Bill. We are keen to explore how we might encourage and develop arrangements under which entertainment venues, including pubs, clubs and bars, make a contribution to the policing and public order costs generated by their activities. Complex issues need to be resolved in order to find a way forward.
	Excluding the Crime Fighting Fund (CFF), police grant for the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) for 200203 is 1.676 billion.
	Under the CFF recruitment initiative, the MPS has already been allocated an additional 2,044 recruits over and above the forces' previous recruitment plans for the three years to March 2003. The MPS/MPA (Metropolitan Police Authority) received 12 million from the CFF in 200001, 43.7 million was paid in 200102 and, on present forecasts of recruitment, is expected to qualify for full payment of 65.9 million in 200203.
	The allocation of available resources to the London Boroughs is a matter for the Commissioner and the Metropolitan Police Authority.

Street Robbery

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) deaths and (b) serious injuries were caused by street robberies in the Metropolitan Police area in 2001; and at what estimated cost to public funds.

John Denham: Information is not available centrally in this form, and provision is a matter for the Commissioner for the Metropolis.
	Latest published Home Office figures show that, according to current records (which are subject to possible change), the Metropolitan Police recorded seven homicides in 200001 where the circumstances involved robbery.

Police (Hillingdon)

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the operating hours of each police station within the Hillingdon Division of the Metropolitan Police Service in (a) 1997 and (b) 2001.

John Denham: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is responsible for the day to day operational management of the force. I am, therefore, sending notice of this question to the Commissioner and to the Metropolitan Police Commander in Hillingdon so that the Commissioner may address the question that you have raised.

Football Matches (Policing)

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to allow police to charge for policing outside football grounds on match days; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: The Government remains concerned at the costs incurred in policing entertainment venues, including major events such as sporting and outdoor entertainments. We are keen to explore how we might encourage and develop arrangements under which entertainment venues make a contribution to the policing and public order costs generated by their activities. Complex issues need to be resolved in order to find a way forward. As we said in response to the Home Affairs Committee's Report into the Police Reform Bill, as part of the Government's ongoing work in this area, we will consult interested parties about Chapter 13 of Home Office Circular 34/2000, Home Office guidance on football-related legislation. This chapter deals specifically with charging for policing football.

Police Recruitment

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many police officers have (a) left the profession and (b) been recruited in Coventry in each year since 1997;
	(2)  what the shortfall is in police officer numbers in Coventry; what measures are being taken to increase these numbers; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: holding answer 25 February 2002
	The information in the tables has been provided by the Chief Constable of the West Midlands Police.
	This Government is helping West Midlands Police to increase police numbers through the extra recruits being made available through the Crime Fighting Fund (CFF). West Midlands has been allocated 523 CFF recruits over three years to March 2003. The force recruited 222 CFF recruits in 200001 and expects to recruit 195 in 200102 and a further 106 in 200203. By 31 January 2002 West Midlands had 7,577 officers, a record number and 464 more than in March 1997. It is for the Chief Constable to determine the allocation of officers within the force area.
	The City of Coventry has three territorial divisions. Table 1 provides information on the budgeted strength of each division and its actual strength. Differences between actual and budgeted strength have a variety of causes. They may arise because patterns of recruitment to and wastage from the police service are different or because targets for strength at the end of the financial year reflect planned changes in strength, for example the allocation of officers recruited through the Crime Fighting Fund.
	Table 2 shows the numbers of officers who were recruited and posted to Coventry and who left the profession from the Coventry divisions, it also shows the number of officers who left on transfer to another police force.
	
		(1) Number of officers in the Coventry Divisions
		
			 Division Budgeted strength(90) Actual strength(90),(91) 
		
		
			 M1 Division 300 282 
			 M2 Division 276 264 
			 M3 Division 287 272 
			 TOTAL 863 818 
		
	
	(90) Figures are full-time equivalents.
	(91) Strength is the position at 31 January.
	
		(2) Number of officers joining and leaving Coventry Divisions
		
			 Year (12 months Ending 31 March) Number of officers recruited (including transfers from other forces) Number leaving profession from Coventry divisions(92) Number of officers transferring from Coventry to other forces Total leavers 
		
		
			 199697 39 36 1 37 
			 199798 56 26 6 32 
			 199899 39 25 7 32 
			 19992000 64 39 3 42 
			 200001 67 37 12 49 
			 200102 (to 20/02/02) 15 7 4 11 
			 Total 280 170 33 203 
		
	
	(92)Retirement, ill health/deceased, not satisfactory, career break, other.

Special Advisers

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions since 1 May 1997 (a) departmental and (b) non-departmental special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity; and if he will list the total cost, including (i) travel, (ii) accommodation and (iii) subsistence allowance, for each occasion.

David Blunkett: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to Mr. Burns on 9 July 2002, Official Report, column 891W.
	In addition, two official visits have been made by Special Advisers to the United States since 1997. One in August 2000 at a total cost of 2,117 and the other in August 2001 at a total cost of 2,900.
	The advisor on international drug issues (who was employed on Special Adviser terms) has visited Belgium, Romania and the Czech Republic on official business at an average cost of 1,094 per trip.
	Information for the period beyond March 2002 will be available in due course.

Police Complaints

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the complaints concerning the conduct of Deputy Commissioner Ian Blair by the National Black Police Association and by members of the public have been referred to him in accordance with Regulation 7 (3A) Police (Conduct) (Senior Officers) Regulation 1999; and if the referral requirement is mandatory.

John Denham: No referral has been made. I am informed by the Metropolitan Police Authority that, following further representations from the National Black Police Association, the Metropolitan Police Authority are making further preliminary enquiries.
	When a complaint is made about the conduct of the Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, referral to the Secretary of State is not mandatory if the authority is satisfied that the conduct complained of, even if proved, would not justify criminal or disciplinary proceedings. Where referral is not mandatory, the Metropolitan Police Authority may deal with the matter at its own discretion, subject to the Regulations.
	The Regulations allow for the authority to conclude, after preliminary enquiries, that no proceedings under regulation 11 need to be taken, and once this conclusion is reached by the Authority, no investigating officer needs to be appointed and no referral under regulation 7(3A) need be made.

Crime and Disorder Partnerships

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crime and disorder partnerships have a named anti-social behaviour co-ordinators.

John Denham: 236 of the 376 Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships have confirmed that they have a designated co-ordinator for action against anti-social behaviour. We are working to ensure that the remainder follow suit as quickly as possible. Section 92 (10) of the Police Reform Bill amends the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 so as to grant the Home Secretary the power to call for reports from Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships annually. This will enable Crime Reduction Directors to ensure that partnerships have appropriate strategies to deal with anti-social behaviour and that they are implemented effectively.

Policing (Cambridgeshire)

Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list (a) the Cambridgeshire Police Authority spend on the police and (b) the Government grant to the Cambridgeshire Police Authority in the years 199091 to 200102 and projected for the financial year 200203, adjusted for inflation at current values.

John Denham: The information is set out in the table.
	
		
			  Net Expenditure in real terms Government grant in real terms(93) 
			  (000's) (000's) 
		
		
			 199091 59,070 N/A 
			 199192 61,900 N/A 
			 199293 63,864 N/A 
			 199394 69,452 N/A 
			 199495 70,559 N/A 
			 199596 71,356 61,749 
			
			 199697 73,723 63,698 
			 199798 75,538 62,942 
			 199899 78,603 64,923 
			 19992000 78,439 65,711 
			 200001 81,027 67,209 
			 200102(94) 84,131 70,396 
			 200203(94) N/A 69,022 
		
	
	(93)Government grant includes Home Office Police grant, Department for Transport, London and the Regions (DTLR) national non domestic rates, revenue support grant, Crime Fighting Fund and rural policing grant. Before 199596 when most Police Authorities became independent local authorities, revenue support grant and national non domestic rates were paid as part of respective county council grant funding.
	(94)The grant figures for 200102 and 200203 are not directly comparable, owing to changes from 200203 in the method of funding the National Crime Squad/National Criminal Intelligence Service. Based on the new arrangements, comparable expenditure and grant figures for 200102, in real terms, would have been 82,374,000 and 68,619,000.
	Source for net expenditure: Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Police Statistics (Estimates only for 200001 and 200102).
	Real terms are at 200102 prices using GDP deflator at 28.6.02

Police Reform

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish a White Paper on Police reform; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: holding answer 11 March 2002
	The white paper Policing A New Century: A Blueprint for Reform was published on 5 December 2001. My right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, made a statement in the House.

Superintendent Ali Dizaei

Martin Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will order an investigation as to why telephone conversations between Superintendent Ali Dizaei, the legal advisor to the National Black Police Association and other officers and their lawyers were monitored and transcribed by officers investigating him.

John Denham: I have no plans at present to order an investigation. I would refer the hon. Friend to my letter to of 9 November 2001 to the hon. Member for Worthing West (Mr. Bottomley) which clarifies the position regarding the telephone calls that Superintendent Dizaei made in connection with his National Black Police Association business. A copy of this letter is in the Library.

Metropolitan Police

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to intervene in the operations of the Metropolitan Police; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: holding answer 12 March 2002
	Operational policy decisions are the responsibility of the chief officer of each police force. In the case of the Metropolitan Police, this is the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, Sir John Stevens.
	Where under-performance in a force has been identified by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, the Police Reform Bill contains a power which will enable the Home Secretary to require that the relevant police authority instructs the chief office to provide an action plan setting out the remedial measures which he/she will take to correct that under-performance. We have no current plan to use this power with respect to the Metrpolitan Police Service (MPS).

Metropolitan Police

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have resigned from the Metropolitan Police force in each of the last three years.

John Denham: The information has been provided by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary. Also included is information on the number of officers recruited by the Metropolitan Police in those years. Information for 200102 is not yet available.
	
		
			 Year 199899 19992000 200001 
		
		
			 Resignations 337 365 435 
			 All leavers (excluding transfers) 1,300 1,020 1,154 
			 Recruitment 1,516 994 1,276

Mobile Phone Thefts

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many mobile phone thefts there have been by (a) police authority area and (b) crime and disorder partnership area each year since 1997.

John Denham: The requested information is not collected centrally.
	Estimates of the number of mobile phone thefts in England and Wales as a whole in 200001 vary widely, depending on the source of the data used to produce the estimate. A recent research study Mobile Phone Theft (by Victoria Harrington and Pat Mayhew, Home Office Research Study 235) contained a number of estimates. On the basis of figures from six police forces extrapolated to England and Wales, there were an estimated 330,000 offences recorded by the police in 200001, while the best estimate from analysis of data from three surveys indicates that there were some 710,000 phone thefts occurring annually at this time.
	We are working with the police and the mobile phone industry to reduce mobile phone robbery, undertaking public awareness campaigns and joint tracking exercises. Our discussions with the operators have recently borne fruit. By the summer all five of the main operators will be able to bar stolen handsets by reference to the unique IMEI number which identifies the handset. All of the operators are also working together to develop a shared database of stolen phones, which will allow them to disable stolen phones if there is an attempt to use them on a different network. We believe that this is a very important step forward, as it should remove one of the major incentives for robbery.
	Operators have also agreed to improve security as they invest in new systems. We are pressing the handset manufacturers for similar commitments. A start has been made, but more needs to be done before Britain's mobile phone system can lead the world in security. The mobile phone industry needs to show more interest in the security of phones they are selling to British consumers and, as the motor industry has done, do more to prevent their customers from becoming the victims of crime.

Police Officers

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hours were lost in each year since 1997 owing to illness of police officers in Wales.

John Denham: Information held centrally by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary records the number of days lost due to sickness. This is shown in the table.
	
		
			  9697 9798 9899 992000 200001 
		
		
			 Number of police officer days in Wales lost due to sickness absence 79,343 87,191 90,357 89,811 97,037 
		
	
	The Home Office is currently developing the Occupational health status Strategy for a Healthy Police Service, in consultation with the police service, which is intended to help bring about substantial reductions in police sickness and in sickness absence.

Police Officers

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were in the Wandsworth policing division on 1 April; and how many there were on 1 April (a) 2001 and (b) 2000.

John Denham: Information about strength in territorial divisions is not collected.

Police Officers

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his definition is of a front line police officer.

John Denham: The only definition of an operational (frontline) officer which currently exists is that in the Report of the Working Group on the Classification of Police Service Personnel in September 1999 which was commissioned by the then Home Secretary (Mr. Straw). It describes such an officer as any officer, including covert officers, whose primary role (i.e., over 50 per cent. of the time) is directly to deliver the overarching aims of the police service.
	This definition however is insufficient for the purposes of determining who should benefit under the special priority posts scheme which forms part of the package of reforms agreed in the Police Negotiating Board on 9 May.
	Under the special priority posts scheme, forces will be able to target extra rewards on those working at the sharp end of public service, doing the most difficult and dangerous jobs. We are currently discussing with the Police Service how those to benefit should be identified. It will be for chief officers and police authorities to draw up local schemes, taking account of national criteria and any guidance issued by the Home Secretary. They will also have to consult local staff associations.
	Posts may qualify for the payments where they:
	carry a significantly higher level of responsibility than the norm for the rank;
	present particular difficulties in recruitment and retention; or
	have specially demanding working conditions or working environments.
	Payments from the scheme will normally be not less than 500 and not more than 3,000 a year, although exceptionally payments of up to 5,000 may be made.

Criminal Records Bureau

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the complaint procedure in relation to the Criminal Records Bureau.

John Denham: We are committed to ensuring that the service offered by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) is of the highest standard. An applicant who believes that information in a Disclosure is inaccurate may make an application in writing to the CRB for a new one. If the Bureau is of the opinion that the information is inaccurate, a new Disclosure will be issued. For other complaints, in the first instance complainants should telephone the CRB contact centre or write to the CRB Customer Services Manager. If the applicant considers that a complaint has not been satisfactorily dealt with, the matter may be taken up with the CRB Operations Director or with the Chief Executive. The CRB has appointed a Complaint Mediator to resolve any complaint where a customer remains dissatisfied with the Chief Executive's reply.

Criminal Records Bureau

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the Criminal Records Bureau will operate in relation to existing employees.

John Denham: Although the main thrust of the work of the Criminal Records Bureau is directed towards criminal record checks for new recruits, the Bureau will also receive applications from existing employees and volunteers.

Criminal Records Bureau

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he will take and what records he will use to monitor the work of the Criminal Records Bureau.

John Denham: The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) is an executive agency of the Home Office. The principal arrangements for monitoring and managing its work are as follows. Each year, the Bureau will continue to produce corporate and business plans, and an annual report and accounts, all of which will need to be approved at Ministerial level, and will then be published. The Bureau will also produce weekly and monthly operational performance reports for my information. The Bureau's work is overseen by an Advisory Board which meets frequently and reports directly to me. The Board is chaired by the Home Office Director of Crime and includes senior representatives from the Home Office, the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Department of Health, the Department for Education and Skills, the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, and the Local Government Association and at least one independent non-executive member. The Board has access to whatever records and information it sees fit to fulfil its role.
	In addition, I regularly meet with the Chief Executive of the CRB personally and my officials are in regular contact with his staff about all aspects of the Bureau's work.

Criminal Records Bureau

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the list of bodies registered with the Criminal Records Bureau.

John Denham: Since most have not given their specific consent, it would not be appropriate to publish a list of all the bodies registered with the Criminal Records Bureau for the purpose of countersigning applications for Standard and Enhanced Disclosures. A list of those registered bodies that have consented to having their details made available for the purpose of countersigning applications on behalf of non-registered organisations is available from the Criminal Records Bureau on request and information is also available on the website www.disclosure.gov.uk.

Criminal Records Bureau

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on spent convictions in relation to the Criminal Records Bureau.

John Denham: The package of measures which is being implemented by the Criminal Records Bureau is structured on the basis of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Of the three levels of Disclosure that the Bureau will issue, Basic Disclosures will contain details only of convictions that are not spent under the 1974 Act. Standard and Enhanced Disclosures will also include spent convictions, but will be issued only to applicants for positions that fall within the Exceptions Order under the 1974 Act.

Criminal Records Bureau

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the Criminal Records Bureau will operate its disclosure service in relation to foreign nationals.

John Denham: A foreign national will be able to apply to the Criminal Records Bureau for information held on databases here. But the Bureau is not in a position directly to obtain information from other countries. In the case of a foreign national, or a British national who has lived overseas for a substantial period, the Bureau will offer guidance in due course to employers about the availability of criminal record checks in a range of foreign countries, to enable an enquiry to be made to the appropriate authority.

Criminal Records Bureau

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the Criminal Records Bureau will liaise with (a) Northern Ireland and (b) Scotland.

John Denham: The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) will essentially provide the Disclosure Service, under Part V of the Police Act 1997, in England and Wales. In Scotland, the Scottish Criminal Record Office (SCRO) will provide a broadly equivalent service, called Disclosure Scotland. No conclusion has been reached as to how best to implement the Act in Northern Ireland. The objective is that both the CRB and the SCRO will seek to capture information across borders, so that someone who has resided in, say, both England and Scotland should need to apply only once. Officials in the different administrations keep in regular touch about the detailed arrangements.

Criminal Records Bureau

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of time from referral to answer by the Criminal Records Bureau was in the last 12 months.

Hilary Benn: The Criminal Records Bureau began processing applications for Standard and Enhanced Disclosures on 11 March this year. A total of 286,770 applications have been received to date and the total number of Disclosures issued is 199,309. The service standards are to produce 90 per cent. of Enhanced Disclosures within three weeks and 95 per cent. of Standard Disclosures within one week. These service standards are not currently being met although the Bureau are typically processing correctly-completed applications within six weeks.
	Measures are being taken to overcome the early operating difficulties experienced by the Bureau, which have led to delays in responding to applications. We are determined that the Bureau will be in a position as soon as possible to meet the high standards of service that it has made clear it will deliver to its customers.

Criminal Records Bureau

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints he has received concerning the operation of the Criminal Records Bureau.

Hilary Benn: Since 5 March this year, the Criminal Records Bureau has received a total of 3,806 complaints concerning its operational performance.

Criminal Records Bureau

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his latest estimate is of the cost of the Criminal Records Bureau over its first 10 years; how far this varies from the initial estimates of the cost; and what he estimates accounts for this difference.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 5 July 2002
	The most recent estimate for the Bureau's cost for the first 10 years of operation is 928 million. This compares to the original cost estimate of 939 million. The reduction in this figure is the result of more accurate budget forecasting, due to the experience gained since the Bureau's inception.

Criminal Records Bureau

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had to increase the Criminal Records Bureau's access to criminal records from other countries with regard to child protection.

Hilary Benn: The Criminal Records Bureau plans a non-statutory service to provide UK employers with information about overseas criminal record checking services. The service is expected to be available by September 2002. Employers will then be able to ask prospective employees with overseas residence to obtain copies of relevant records to aid safer recruitment decisions for all types of position.

Criminal Records Bureau

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the performance of the Criminal Records Bureau; and what mechanisms exist to levy financial penalties for poor performance.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 25 June 2002
	(a) The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) reviews its service standards regularly and accepts that it is currently not meeting these service standards. The CRB is confident that over the coming few weeks it will improve its performance and start to achieve its published service standards.
	The CRB has introduced a performance improvement plan and a number of short-term contingency measures to address this issue. The performance improvement plan includes:
	 Rapid recruitment and training of additional staff to meet productivity forecasts;
	 Additional resources to deal with the older applications;
	 Extensions to working hours to increase output
	 Revised procedures to deal with errors/omissions on applications forms. These remove such applications from mainstream processes thereby increasing the efficiency of processing both correctly completed applications and the exceptions;
	 Call Centre staffing levels are being significantly increased to cope with demand;
	 Incomplete or incorrectly completed application forms are being returned to the Registered Body for correction;
	The CRB has also introduced the following short-term contingency measures:
	 Outsourcing most of the backlog of applications to the data entry facility of Hays Plc in Chennai (Madras, India).
	 The CRB will carry out and issue the results of a List 99 check, for all teachers, in advance of a full Disclosure check.
	 The CRB has introduced a contingency plan to deliver a very limited number of manual criminal record checks.
	 Customers are kept informed of all service developments through their monthly newsletter, Registration Matters.
	 Letters have been issued to Lead Countersignatories about the situation.
	(b) The contract contains a series of Service Levels, which, in turn have liquidated damage (financial remedies) regimes attached to them. In short, failure by the contractor to achieve contracted Service Level results in financial remedies being applied by the Agency. It is not possible to reveal the liquidated damage regimes attached as they are commercial in confidence.

Mobile Phones

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many mobile phones were stolen in (a) Wales, (b) the North West, (c) Lancashire and (d) Ribble Valley in each year since 1997.

John Denham: The requested information is not collected centrally.
	Estimates of the number of mobile phone thefts in England and Wales as a whole in 200001 vary widely, depending on the source of the data used to produce the estimate. A recent research study Mobile Phone Theft (by Victoria Harrington and Pat Mayhew, Home Office Research Study 235) contained a number of estimates. On the basis of figures from six police forces extrapolated to England and Wales, there were an estimated 330,000 offences recorded by the police in 200001, while the best estimate from analysis of data from three surveys indicates that there were some 710,000 phone thefts occurring annually at this time.
	We are working with the police and the mobile phone industry to reduce mobile phone robbery, undertaking public awareness campaigns and joint tracking exercises. Our discussions with the operators have recently borne fruit. By the summer all five of the main operators will be able to bar stolen handsets by reference to the unique IMEI number which identifies the handset. All of the operators are also working together to develop a shared database of stolen phones, which will allow them to disable stolen phones if there is an attempt to use them on a different network. We believe that this is a very important step forward, as it should remove one of the major incentives for robbery.
	Operators have also agreed to improve security as they invest in new systems. We are pressing the handset manufacturers for similar commitments. A start has been made, but more needs to be done before Britain's mobile phone system can lead the world in security. The mobile phone industry needs to show more interest in the security of phones they are selling to British consumers and, as the motor industry has done, do more to prevent their customers from becoming the victims of crime.

Mobile Phones

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will prohibit the sale of separate SIM cards for mobile phones.

John Denham: There are no plans to prohibit the sale of separate SIM cards for mobile phones.

Community Wardens

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the funding of community wardens in Chorley.

John Denham: There is no central Government funding for neighbourhood or street wardens' schemes in Chorley. As no applications were made from Chorley for funding under either the Neighbourhood Wardens' or Street Wardens' programme it was not possible for Government funding to be allocated.

Burglary

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of whether the PSA target for the reduction in recorded burglary crime in households covered by burglary schemes will be met.

John Denham: holding answer 10 April 2002
	Following the latest spending review, our target for reducing burglary has been incorporated in a wider crime reduction Public Service Agreement (PSA) target:
	Reduce crime and the fear of crime; improve performance overall, including by reducing the gap between the highest crime, Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership areas and the best comparable areas; and reduce:
	vehicle crime by 30 per cent. from 199899 to 2004;
	domestic burglary by 25 per cent. from 199899 to 2005;
	robbery in the 10 Street Crime Initiative areas by 14 per cent. from 199900 to 2005;
	and maintain that level.
	In the 12 months to March 2002, there was a reduction of 9.1 per cent. in the numbers of recorded burglaries compared to March 1999. The introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard appears to have had some impact on the recording of domestic burglary.
	The British Crime Surveys show that between 1999 and 2001, the estimated number of domestic burglaries in England and Wales (including those not reported to or recorded by the police) fell from 1.284 million in 1999 to 0.991 million in 2001a reduction of 23 per cent.

Maladministration

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what payments have been made to individuals following finding of maladministration by ombudsmen with responsibility for agencies under the remit of his Department; and what plans he has to review powers to increase the level of awards that can be made in the last 12 months.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 10 April 2002
	Over the last 12 months, no payments to individuals in cases where the Parliamentary Ombudsmen or the Prison Service Ombudsman has completed an investigation and issued a formal report have been recorded for the United Kingdom Passport Service the Forensic Science Service or the Prison Service.
	The levels of awards made for maladministration are not subject to a tariff or statutory limit. All payments are based on the merits of individual cases.

Police Strength

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which (a) divisions (i) of the Metropolitan Police and (ii) elsewhere and (b) constabularies outside the Metropolitan Police numbers are lower than in 1997.

John Denham: holding answer 25 April 2002
	Information on police numbers within the territorial divisions of the Metropolitan Police and other police forces is not collected. On 31 January 2002 12 forces had fewer police officers than in March 1997. They are:
	
		
			 Force Strength as at 31 January 2002 Decrease since March 1997 
		
		
			 Bedfordshire 1,077 -17 
			 Cleveland 1,437 -22 
			 City of London 740 -119 
			 Cumbria 1,117 -27 
			 Lincolnshire 1,190 -6 
			 Merseyside 4,113 -117 
			 Metropolitan Police(95) 25,878 -799 
			 Nottinghamshire 2,313 -10 
			 Staffordshire 2,109 -102 
			 Sussex 2,878 -207 
			 West Mercia 2,012 -28 
			 West Yorkshire 4,899 -310 
		
	
	(95)Comparisons between 31 March 1997 and 31 January 2002 in the Metropolitan Police are affected by boundary changes with Essex, Hertfordshire and Surrey in April 2000 when resources were transferred from the Metropolitan Police. Where police numbers are used in the police funding formula a reduction of 887 officers was applied.
	(96)These figures have not yet been validated and published by the Home Office.
	In March 2001 more than half of all the forces (24) had fewer officers than in March 1997. The Crime Fighting Fund has been a major contributory factor in improving the position.
	Today there is a recorded number of police officers in England and Wales and we are on target to have more than 130,000 by April 2003.

Child Protection

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when guidelines will be issued for police authorities on child sex abuse cases; and if copies of the guidelines will be published.

John Denham: Much guidance relevant to this subject has already been issued by successive governments to the police and other agencies responsible for the protection of children. Inter-agency guidance on the management of complex child abuse investigations was published on 13 June. Copies have been placed in the Library and it is also available on the Home Office website.

Professor Michael Barber

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Professor Michael Barber will produce his report on ways to curb mugging; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: holding answer 19 April 2002
	My officials have been working with the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit (PMDU) on a variety of issues.
	The PMDU has been working with my officials on street crime. The Street Crime Action Group has been convened by my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary and my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to tackle the problem. Announcements have already been made on video ID, fast tracking robbery through the court.

Criminal Justice Revenue (Expenditure)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his statement of 17 April 2002, Official Report, column 589, how much of the 100 million drawn down from the criminal justice revenue for addressing street crime, policing and counter-terrorism has been spent.

John Denham: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the member for Milton Keynes South West (Dr. Phyllis Starkey) on 1 May 2002, Official Report, column 822W. Of the funds allocated to the Home Office from the Criminal Justice Reserve, 10.7 million has been spent to date.

HM Inspectorate of Constabulary

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when and by what means the latest vacant position within Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary was advertised; how many applications there were for the post; what short-listing process was used; how many candidates were called to an interview; and if the guidelines for public appointments apply in appointments to HMIC.

John Denham: The Director General of the Policing and Crime Reduction Group (PCRG) wrote on 10 October 2001 to all chief constables and equivalent office holders in the United Kingdom inviting expressions of interest in two forthcoming vacancies for Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary posts. Four applications were received. A selection panel comprising the Director General of PCRG, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary and an independent member considered the applications and decided to invite all the applicants to interview.
	Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary are appointed by Her Majesty on the recommendation of the Home Secretary under section 54(1) of the Police Act 1996. They do not come within the jurisdiction of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Police Numbers

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were per 1,000 population in the London area in (a) March1997 and (b) September 2001.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

John Denham: holding answer 15 Junary 2002
	The figures set out in the table are form the two forces that police Greater London, the Metropolitan Police Service and City of London Police.
	
		
			 Year Combined strength of Metropolitan Police and City of London Police  Police officers per 1,000 of population 
		
		
			 31 March 1997 27,536 3.61 
			 30 September 2001 26,073 3.53(97) 
			 31 January 2002(98) 26,618 3.61(97) 
		
	
	(97) Boundary changes on 1 April 2000 with Essex, Hertfordshire and Surrey forces reduced the population of London by around 540,000.
	(98) These figures have not yet been validated and published by the Home Office.

Police Numbers

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) police officers and (b) police civilian staff are employed by the Metropolitan Police.

John Denham: I am told by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (Sir John Stevens QPM) that on 31 January the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) had 25,878 full-time equivalent police officers which is 1,000 more than in March 2001. This is the largest increase in a single financial year in the Metropolitan Police for more than 20 years. In addition there were 10,240 civilian support staff, 93 more than in March 2001.

Police Numbers

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his estimate is of the ratio of police officers to notifiable offences in each English police force for each of the last 20 years; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: holding answer 21 May 2002
	The requested details are given in the tables. There was a change in counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998, which increased the total number of crimes counted in each police force area.
	
		The number of crimes recorded by the police per Police Officer
		
			  1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 23 23 25 27 32 34 33 33 41 50 
			 Bedfordshire 33 33 35 36 40 41 40 40 51 52 
			 Cambridgeshire 28 27 27 29 29 30 29 31 37 48 
			 Cheshire 22 23 24 25 26 28 27 26 30 35 
			 Cleveland 31 31 34 35 40 41 40 41 50 52 
			 Cumbria 20 21 23 25 27 26 24 25 29 38 
			 Derbyshire 27 27 28 27 27 26 24 27 34 43 
			 Devon and Cornwall 22 22 23 25 26 27 26 27 32 38 
			 Dorset 26 27 28 30 31 32 29 32 38 40 
			 Durham 28 28 33 34 34 34 33 34 40 48 
			 Essex* 24 25 25 26 28 28 26 28 34 38 
			 Gloucestershire 21 21 22 25 26 30 29 30 36 48 
			 Greater Manchester 35 36 40 43 47 47 42 42 48 54 
			 Hampshire 27 27 29 30 32 32 30 31 38 45 
			 Hertfordshire* 26 24 26 26 27 27 25 25 28 33 
			 Humberside 32 31 33 39 42 45 44 46 52 59 
			 Kent 23 23 25 26 26 27 27 28 35 46 
			 Lancashire 24 24 25 26 29 30 31 28 34 38 
			 Leicestershire 25 25 26 28 28 30 29 31 41 49 
			 Lincolnshire 21 22 23 27 28 30 28 30 33 37 
			 London, City of 8 8 9 9 10 10 8 9 9 9 
			 Merseyside 31 31 34 34 37 36 31 29 30 32 
			 Metropolitan Police* 27 25 27 27 29 27 26 27 29 33 
			 Norfolk 28 28 27 30 32 32 32 33 40 46 
			 Northamptonshire 31 31 33 35 37 38 35 36 43 51 
			 Northumbria 41 41 45 49 49 51 46 52 58 64 
			 North Yorkshire 22 21 23 27 26 28 25 26 34 37 
			 Nottinghamshire 40 38 40 42 43 44 43 46 57 64 
			 South Yorkshire 27 28 32 30 32 33 31 32 37 42 
			 Staffordshire 22 23 24 25 27 27 27 27 33 39 
			 Suffolk 21 22 23 24 27 27 25 27 32 33 
			 Surrey* 18 18 19 19 20 20 20 21 26 30 
			 Sussex 21 21 23 24 24 24 23 26 32 38 
			 Thames Valley 30 30 32 33 36 34 31 34 40 50 
			 Warwickshire 22 22 24 24 25 26 24 26 34 40 
			 West Mercia 25 25 26 26 27 27 26 27 32 37 
			 West Midlands 33 33 36 37 41 40 36 34 39 44 
			 West Yorkshire 31 30 33 34 34 36 34 36 45 56 
			 Wiltshire 24 24 26 27 27 26 24 25 30 34 
		
	
	* These forces were affected by the boundary changes which took place in April 2000
	
		The number of crimes recorded by the police per Police Officer
		
			  1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 199798 199899 199900 200001 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 57 57 55 51 53 48 49 50 50 50 
			 Bedfordshire 54 50 46 45 46 43 42 47 52 48 
			 Cambridgeshire 53 52 49 54 56 46 46 53 56 50 
			 Cheshire 42 42 39 38 33 30 30 31 32 32 
			 Cleveland 57 53 57 55 55 44 43 47 46 46 
			 Cumbria 38 37 36 35 36 31 31 36 35 31 
			 Derbyshire 52 50 47 46 45 41 42 48 48 45 
			 Devon and Cornwall 40 42 38 36 36 33 31 38 39 35 
			 Dorset 41 40 43 42 39 34 33 41 40 37 
			 Durham 48 49 47 43 37 33 31 32 31 28 
			 Essex* 40 39 36 34 35 30 31 33 37 37 
			 Gloucestershire 52 53 52 48 47 42 42 44 46 43 
			 Greater Manchester 56 52 49 47 47 44 45 53 55 53 
			 Hampshire 48 45 43 41 41 36 35 37 40 39 
			 Hertfordshire* 35 33 33 33 32 28 28 29 30 33 
			 Humberside 64 69 67 63 62 59 61 66 63 58 
			 Kent 52 51 49 50 47 38 37 40 39 39 
			 Lancashire 41 42 40 39 39 37 36 36 34 36 
			 Leicestershire 53 55 54 51 49 42 41 47 47 43 
			 Lincolnshire 41 44 40 40 41 36 35 41 41 37 
			 London, City of 8 7 6 6 6 6 6 9 11 12 
			 Merseyside 32 30 29 33 33 30 30 33 36 35 
			 Metropolitan Police* 33 33 31 30 31 30 30 36 41 40 
			 Norfolk 47 45 39 37 39 37 37 41 43 40 
			 Northamptonshire 51 50 49 49 50 46 46 58 55 49 
			 Northumbria 65 60 57 54 46 38 36 39 38 35 
			 North Yorkshire 39 42 47 49 43 38 37 41 42 40 
			 Nottinghamshire 71 68 66 65 62 55 54 61 62 61 
			
			 South Yorkshire 46 52 52 51 49 41 40 42 42 39 
			 Staffordshire 45 45 42 41 42 41 39 41 46 49 
			 Suffolk 37 35 33 32 33 30 30 34 38 39 
			 Surrey* 31 31 28 26 26 24 24 26 26 31 
			 Sussex 40 37 36 38 38 36 37 46 48 48 
			 Thames Valley 52 52 48 46 47 43 41 47 51 51 
			 Warwickshire 45 45 41 38 40 39 39 42 43 40 
			 West Mercia 39 40 41 39 41 38 37 40 45 40 
			 West Midlands 47 47 45 45 44 39 39 43 51 49 
			 West Yorkshire 60 60 57 56 52 47 47 55 54 54 
			 Wiltshire 35 33 30 29 29 29 28 33 34 33 
		
	
	*These forces were affected by the boundary changes which took place in April 2000
	The figures in the table are calculated using the total of recorded crimes for the year in question (calendar up to 1997, and years ending March thereafter) and full-time equivalent numbers of police officers as at 31 March in that year (for years ending March, this is at the end of the year in question).

Hertfordshire Constabulary

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the strength of the Hertfordshire constabulary was on (a) 1 May 1997, (b) 1 April 2000, (c) 1 April 2001 and (d) the latest date for which figures are available.

John Denham: Information on police strength is normally collected twice a year (31 March and 30 September). The latest available strength figure collected by the Home Office is for 31 January 2002. Police numbers for Hertfordshire are set out in the table.
	
		Hertfordshire Constabulary
		
			 Year (as at 31 March) Police Strength 
		
		
			 1997 1,759 
			 2000 1,767 
			 2001(99) 1,922 
			 2002 (31 January)(100) 1,851 
		
	
	(99)Boundary changes with the Metropolitan Police contributed to the significant increase in police numbers between 2000 and 2001.
	(100)These figures have not yet been validated and published by the Home Office.

Anti-crime Agencies

Mike O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the roles of (a) the Special Branch of Scotland Yard, (b) NCIS and (c) NCS in combating organised crime.

John Denham: Special Branch does not have a specific remit to tackle serious and organised crime.
	The National Crime Intelligence Service (NCIS) has a United Kingdom-wide remit to develop intelligence to combat serious and organised crime, providing both tactical and strategic intelligence and expertise for law enforcement, government and other relevant agencies at a national and international level. It houses the UK Central Bureau for Interpol and the Europol National Unit.
	The National Crime Squad's role in England and Wales is to conduct operations against serious and organised crime. NCS works closely with NCIS, other agencies including the National Investigation Service of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and police forces.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions between 31 March 2001 and 31 March 2002 (a) departmental and (b) non-departmental special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity; what places were visited; and how much each visit cost.

David Blunkett: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to Mr. Burns on 9 July 2002, Official Report, column 891W.
	In addition, two official visits have been made by Special Advisers to the United States since 1997. One in August 2000 at a total cost of 2,117 and the other in August 2001 at a total cost of 2,900.
	The advisor on international drug issues (who was employed on Special Adviser terms) has visited Belgium, Romania and the Czech Republic on official business at an average cost of 1,094 per trip.
	Information for the period beyond March 2002 will be available in due course.

Funding (Luton, South)

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what moneys have been provided (a) directly and (b) via agencies for which the Department has responsibility to the Luton, South constituency since 1997.

John Denham: It is not possible to account for all funds directed to recipients in the Luton South constituency because funds are not allocated on the basis of Parliamentary Constituencies. However, I am pleased to publish the table showing the following grants made to organisations in Luton in the last years as shown. This demonstrates a substantiated investment in Luton by the Home Office.
	
		
			 Project Year Amount  
		
		
			 Community Projects   
			 Luton Livesan Active 199900 112,500 
			 Community demonstration project 200001 270,000 
			  200102 250,456 
			  200203 177,044 (to be paid) 
			 Active Dads pilot project. 199900 22,700 
			 Run by the Community 200001 2,500 
			 Education Development   
			 Centre   
			 Summer Activities 200102 59,360 
			 Section 11 grants*   
			 Luton Borough Council 199798 1,397,592 
			  199899 1,433,919 
			 Stopley High School 199798 5,714 
			  199899 5,862 
			 Luton Sixth Form College 199798 1,465,183 
			  199899 1,503,267 
			 *Department For Education and Skills (DFES) took over responsibility for Section II 
			 from 992000   
			 Asylum Support Payments to Luton BC   
			  19992000 1,825,718 
			 Adults and Families 200001 4,459,838 
			  200102 4,182,727 
			  200001 217,412 
			 Unaccompanied Asylum 200102 210,079 
			 Seeking Children (UASC)   
			 Crime Reduction   
			 Programme   
			 Close Circuit Television projects 199902 180,229 
			 Bury Park, Dunstable Road 199902 111,537 
			 Leagrave Railway 199902 68,343 
			 Luton Railway 199902 166,000 
			 Luton National Health 199902 272,680 
			 Service   
			 Hockwell Ring 199902 55,243 
			 Luton Town Centre Car 199902 704,880 
			 Park   
			 Luton Town Centre   
			 Reducing Burglary Initiative   
			 Luton Dallow Ward 199902 70,200 
			 Four Wards, Biscot, High Town 199902 78,100 
			 Lewsey and South Wards   
			 Small Retailers in deprived areas 199902 18,378 
			 Safer LutonWards Dallow and Biscot 200102 208,800 
			  200203 208,800 
			 Communities against drugs 200001 10,000 
			  200102 69,841 
			 Partnership development fund 200203 83,146 
			 Safer communities initiative   
			 University of Luton Research Projects   
			 Sex Victims Project 199700 74,338 
			 Evaluation of Round 2 Targeted Policing: Drugs and Vice in the London Borough of Haringey 200102 85,810 
			 Evaluation of Crime Reducation Programme (CRP) Tackling Crime and Disorder associated with Prostitution InitiativeYoung People Group 200102 79,740 
			 Drugs Projects   
			 Drug Action Team Development Funding: Luton Primary Care Trust 200102 45,497 
			 Drug Prevention Advisory Service Grant: Luton Primary Care Trust 200102 8,500 
			 Communities Against Drugs: Drug Action Team Grant 200102 31,497

Data Protection

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will list the kinds of public authorities likely to be granted access to communications data; how frequently he estimates each kind of organisation will seek access to communications data; and if he will make a statement.
	(2)  if he will introduce an amendment to (a) the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and (b) the Code of Practice in relation to Communications Data to prohibit the subsequent onward disclosure of communications data to third parties which are not authorised directly by him to receive such data; and if he will make a statement.
	(3)  under the Interception of Communications Act 1985, how many times the Metropolitan Police Force sought access to communications data in the last year; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: The Interception of Communications Act 1985 did not provide for access to communications data. The Metropolitan Police made approximately 127,000 separate requests for communication data under the Data Protection Act 1998 in the last year. The access to communications data provisions in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) have not yet been implemented.
	My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, has withdrawn the order made under s.25(1) of RIPA adding a number of other public authorities to the access to communications provisions in the Act to allow for wider consultation before bringing forward new proposals.
	Chapter II of Part I of RIPA deals with the acquisition of data. The subsequent use made of that data is regulated by the Data Protection Act 1998 and by the statutes governing the Intelligence agencies.

Community Policing

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what national standards exist on the local implementation and monitoring of community policing.

John Denham: The Government is committed to ensuring that policing services meet the needs of the local community. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and the Police Standards Unit monitor policing at a local as well as at force level. Police authorities are also required to publish information about their performance against a range of Best Value Performance Indicators (BVPIs), including those that address community issues such as police visibility and public satisfaction with the standards of service they receive from their local force.
	The Police Reform Act 2002 contains a number of radical measures which will increase and enhance the police service's visibility in the community, including the introduction of Community Support Officers.

Police Communications

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department has taken in light of the report by the Trade and Industry Committee on testing of the police communications radio system.

John Denham: Prior to the Trade and Industry Committee report on Mobile Phone Masts the Home Office had asked the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) to assess the health and safety aspects of the TETRA technology used by Airwave. The NRPB report concluded that it is unlikely that the unique features of TETRA pose a hazard to health. The Home Office has nonetheless set up a comprehensive research programme to ensure that any residual health and safety covers that has been revised by forces and users are addressed.

Offender Assessment System

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total costs have been of introducing the Offender Assessment System for the prison and probation service; what estimates he has made of the time required for prison and probation officers to carry out assessments under the OASYS; how his Department proposes to monitor the effectiveness of the OASYS; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The Offender Assessment System (OASys) has not been fully introduced into the Prison and Probation services. The National Probation Service has started implementation of paper-based Offender assessments, while the Prison Service is intending to roll out on a computer-based system from April 2003.
	The combined development costs for OASys from 19992002 are approximately 883,000. The cost to the National Probation Service of implementing the paper-based system for the financial year was approximately 173,000.
	It has been estimated that on average it will take, on paper, 210 minutes for a Probation Officer and, electronically, 315 minutes for a Prison Officer to complete an initial OASys assessment.
	OASys effectiveness will be monitored through comprehensive Management Information Systems developed by each service and when OASys is bedded in, performance targets for both services will be defined and monitored. The OASys Central Research Unit will continue to carry out investigations into the validity and reliability of the OASys system as well as the effectiveness of interventions designed and implemented across the Services. In addition, independent evaluation will be carried out or managed by the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate.

Price Standards

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information the Standards Unit has requested from (a) police forces and (b) basic command units within police forces; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: holding answer 13 June 2002
	Following discussions between the Home Office, including the Police Standards Unit (PSU), and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the police service have provided data on recorded crime and detections at force and Basic Command Unit (BCU) level on a monthly basis from 1 April this year. To serve as a basis for comparison of performance against previous periods and the monitoring of trends, the Police Standards Unit has also asked that forces submit backdated monthly data for 200001 and 200102.
	PSU have also contributed to the work of the Home Office's Street Crime Action Team (SCAT). As part of their monitoring role, SCAT require weekly performance indication from BCUs in 10 urban forces on levels of robbery, snatch theft, car-jacking and criminal firearms offences.
	PSU have of course been in contact with a wide range of forces and BCUs over the past year as part of its overall programme of work.

Prisons

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the key performance targets are for training in each prison, broken down by category; and to what extent those targets have been met in the last 12 months for which information is available.

Hilary Benn: Prisons agree an annual target for the average number of hours per week that prisoners should spend in purposeful activity. This includes activities aimed at reducing crime such as work, education and resettlement. Targets are not set separately for each component part of the measure.
	The 200102 targets for each prison, with actual performance analysed by broad heading are given in the table. Figures are subject to rounding.
	
		
			 Prison name Target 200102 Average weekly hours 200102 Education Work Resettlement Other 
		
		
			 Acklington 25 23.2 5.0 15.4 2.5 0.3 
			 Albany 24 24.2 5.3 15.0 1.3 2.6 
			 Altcourse 31.7 34.3 7.3 19.9 6.9 0.1 
			 Ashfield 30 27.1 11.9 10.3 4.3 0.5 
			 Ashwell 32 31.7 9.2 18.2 3.8 0.4 
			 Askham Grange 39 41.1 6.6 15.0 6.7 12.8 
			 Aylesbury 22 17.4 6.8 6.8 2.0 1.8 
			 Bedford 21 19.8 3.9 14.8 0.9 0.2 
			 Belmarsh 15 11.0 2.9 5.6 2.1 0.3 
			 Birmingham 16 19.3 3.4 13.5 1.8 0.5 
			 Blakenhurst 23 18.9 4.4 12.0 2.1 0.5 
			 Blantyre House 40 49.0 9.9 10.2 9.2 19.7 
			 Blundeston 26 25.8 8.0 14.6 2.1 1.1 
			 Brinsford 22 27.5 10.9 11.6 3.6 1.3 
			 Bristol 21 21.1 3.0 15.8 1.7 0.5 
			 Brixton 16 16.6 1.9 11.3 2.1 1.3 
			 Brockhill 22 18.2 6.8 8.8 1.7 0.9 
			 Buckley Hall 35 30.3 9.2 16.6 1.8 2.5 
			 Bullingdon 17 13.8 4.1 6.6 2.8 0.3 
			 Bullwood Hall 25 27.2 12.1 12.4 2.0 0.7 
			 Camp Hill 23 21.4 7.2 10.2 3.5 0.5 
			 Canterbury 18.5 18.0 5.4 10.4 1.5 0.7 
			 Cardiff 23 20.4 3.4 13.8 2.7 0.4 
			 Castington 25 25.1 15.3 7.0 2.0 0.7 
			 Channings Wood 32 33.5 6.1 13.5 13.3 0.4 
			 Chelmsford 20 18.8 4.1 11.5 2.9 0.2 
			 Coldingley 40 38.2 7.8 25.8 3.8 0.8 
			 Cookham Wood 25 22.0 5.4 14.6 1.3 0.6 
			 Dartmoor 22 21.6 4.8 13.1 2.1 1.6 
			 Deerbolt 23 21.1 11.8 7.0 2.0 0.3 
			 Doncaster 18 20.1 5.8 12.2 1.8 0.2 
			 Dorchester 20 15.7 5.4 9.1 0.9 0.3 
			 Dovegate 35 27.5 6.1 17.1 3.9 0.4 
			 Dover 28 27.3 10.0 10.0 6.1 1.0 
			 Downview 25 23.7 5.9 10.0 5.2 2.7 
			 Drake Hall 35.7 35.8 6.4 21.5 7.2 0.7 
			 Durham 19 20.3 4.5 12.3 3.2 0.3 
			 East Sutton Park 39 42.0 6.9 24.4 3.6 6.9 
			 Eastwood Park 18 19.4 4.3 13.0 1.1 0.9 
			 Elmley 22 18.6 4.4 11.8 1.9 0.6 
			 Erlestoke 28.5 27.9 8.4 14.9 3.8 0.6 
			 Everthorpe 27 28.0 9.5 15.0 3.0 0.4 
			 Exeter 21 22.9 4.6 16.2 1.7 0.3 
			 Featherstone 24.5 24.2 5.6 16.8 1.4 0.4 
			 Feltham 12.5 24.7 11.3 8.7 4.0 0.4 
			 Ford 40 39.8 6.2 21.4 7.3 4.8 
			 Forest Bank 25 21.7 6.0 12.5 2.5 0.8 
			 Foston Hall 25.5 25.4 7.6 14.9 2.4 0.6 
			 Frankland 22 20.9 6.7 11.8 2.0 0.4 
			 Full Sutton 18.5 17.4 3.1 10.4 1.4 2.4 
			 Garth 22 23.4 7.0 10.7 5.3 0.4 
			 Gartree 30 30.5 8.3 17.3 4.3 0.6 
			 Glen Parva 18.5 18.2 6.0 9.8 1.9 0.5 
			 Gloucester 30 20.5 7.3 11.0 1.8 0.5 
			
			 Grendon 36 35.6 4.8 11.6 8.3 10.7 
			 Guys Marsh 24 22.6 5.3 13.4 2.5 1.4 
			 Haslar 18 15.2 5.9 7.2 0.7 1.4 
			 Hatfield 36 37.1 14.2 14.8 5.3 2.9 
			 Haverigg 33 31.1 8.9 20.3 1.2 0.6 
			 Hewell Grange 42 42.6 10.7 26.0 5.0 0.9 
			 High Down 17.5 15.9 4.7 7.6 2.1 1.4 
			 Highpoint 22 18.9 5.0 11.4 1.8 0.7 
			 Hindley 30 20.5 8.3 10.9 0.8 0.4 
			 Hollesley Bay 34.5 36.5 14.7 14.7 3.3 3.7 
			 Holloway 15 20.3 6.2 6.5 4.8 2.9 
			 Holme House 17 15.5 4.9 7.7 2.5 0.2 
			 Hull 22 20.5 6.3 11.3 2.2 0.7 
			 Huntercombe 30 26.7 10.9 9.0 6.0 0.8 
			 Kingston 24 24.3 6.4 16.2 1.1 0.6 
			 Kirkham 43 43.4 7.6 29.5 4.9 1.2 
			 Kirklevington 52 51.6 8.1 10.8 7.6 25.2 
			 Lancaster 26 24.8 9.4 8.7 6.0 0.7 
			 Lancaster Farms 24 22.6 12.2 5.5 3.8 1.0 
			 Latchmere House 64 61.2 2.4 14.5 44.1 0.1 
			 Leeds 20 18.7 4.1 10.6 1.7 2.3 
			 Leicester 20 21.0 5.7 11.4 2.5 1.4 
			 Lewes 19.5 18.6 4.7 11.8 1.6 0.4 
			 Leyhill 39 37.8 8.2 19.0 7.1 3.3 
			 Lincoln 24 18.6 3.4 13.9 1.1 0.2 
			 Lindholme 28 27.7 6.5 13.9 4.2 3.0 
			 Littlehey 25 23.1 6.9 13.9 2.0 0.2 
			 Liverpool 25 17.7 3.5 12.9 1.1 0.2 
			 Long Lartin 19 18.3 5.2 11.9 0.9 0.3 
			 Low Newton 24.5 23.7 6.8 12.3 4.4 0.2 
			 Lowdham Grange 24 27.2 2.3 22.1 1.0 1.8 
			 Maidstone 26 21.0 5.7 13.2 1.5 0.4 
			 Manchester 21 19.7 3.4 12.7 3.3 0.2 
			 Moorland 26 25.0 10.9 11.3 2.4 0.3 
			 Morton Hall 36 30.7 8.1 20.4 1.5 0.5 
			 Mount 22 20.0 5.6 12.6 1.2 0.5 
			 New Hall 24 22.9 6.5 13.0 2.2 1.1 
			 North Sea Camp 42 42.2 8.1 25.8 3.7 4.5 
			 Northallerton 18 22.1 10.9 7.9 1.9 1.3 
			 Norwich 20 18.9 4.2 11.5 2.7 0.6 
			 Nottingham 19.5 17.2 3.0 11.3 1.6 1.3 
			 Onley 23 18.0 7.8 8.2 1.4 0.7 
			 Parc 35 26.8 7.4 15.8 3.2 0.4 
			 Parkhurst 21 19.1 5.0 12.0 1.6 0.3 
			 Pentonville 19 15.0 2.2 10.7 1.1 1.0 
			 Portland 24 24.5 9.2 7.9 6.9 0.5 
			 Preston 21.5 21.1 5.5 13.3 1.7 0.5 
			 Ranby 27 23.6 7.2 15.3 0.7 0.5 
			 Reading 26 24.4 5.2 1.7 4.0 13.5 
			 Risley 25 25.2 6.9 15.6 2.1 0.5 
			 Rochester 22 23.0 4.4 9.5 6.8 2.3 
			 Rye Hill 35 29.4 9.2 17.8 1.8 0.4 
			 Send 30 31.4 5.9 13.8 11.0 0.7 
			 Shepton Mallet 27 22.9 7.1 11.2 3.8 0.9 
			 Shrewsbury 23 23.8 4.9 15.2 3.3 0.3 
			 Stafford 30 26.4 8.2 15.5 1.7 0.9 
			 Standford Hill 41 39.6 8.9 21.5 6.6 2.6 
			 Stocken 25 23.2 7.1 13.9 1.6 0.6 
			 Stoke Heath 29 25.8 10.4 11.1 2.9 1.3 
			 Styal 25.5 24.9 7.5 13.2 1.9 2.1 
			 Sudbury 41 41.5 8.8 24.0 5.5 3.2 
			 Swaleside 25 24.3 7.1 13.3 2.4 1.5 
			 Swansea 20 22.0 4.1 14.9 1.6 1.4 
			 Swinfen Hall 29 28.0 12.0 11.2 3.6 1.2 
			 Thorn Cross 42 43.9 17.9 14.4 6.9 4.7 
			 Usk 36 37.9 15.1 18.4 3.6 0.7 
			 Verne 28 28.4 8.1 18.8 1.5 0.0 
			 Wakefield 20 18.2 5.4 10.7 1.6 0.4 
			 Wandsworth 19 17.1 5.8 9.8 0.9 0.6 
			 Wayland 24.5 20.8 8.6 9.9 1.4 1.0 
			 Wealstun 33 32.6 11.9 15.3 4.5 0.8 
			 Weare 20 18.8 7.6 9.0 1.8 0.3 
			 Wellingborough 28 28.1 11.7 11.7 3.8 0.9 
			
			 Werrington 35 32.5 21.7 5.8 4.6 0.3 
			 Wetherby 30 27.1 10.9 11.6 4.3 0.3 
			 Whatton 30 30.6 8.7 19.3 2.1 0.5 
			 Whitemoor 20 20.2 6.7 10.6 2.3 0.5 
			 Winchester 19 19.0 3.7 12.3 2.4 0.5 
			 Wolds 28 28.3 11.1 14.8 1.7 0.7 
			 Woodhill 20 16.0 6.0 6.4 3.0 0.6 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 21 18.5 4.2 9.6 2.7 1.9 
			 Wymott 28 27.7 4.9 8.5 2.4 1.1

Prisons

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total annual budget was in each of the last five years, for the inspection of Her Majesty's prisons.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inspections were carried out in each of Her Majesty's prisons in each of the last five years.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff were employed by or seconded to the Inspectorate of Her Majesty's prisons in each of the last five years.

Hilary Benn: The number of staff employed by or seconded to HM Inspectorate of Prisons since 199798 is as follows:
	
		
			  
		
		
			 199798 27 
			 199899 24 
			 19992000 24 
			 200001 26 
			 200102 26 
		
	
	Because of re-organisation within the Department it is not possible to dis-aggregate the budget for the inspectorate before 199900. The budget for that and succeeding years was:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 19992000 773,000 
			 200001 896,000 
			 200102 1,260,000 
		
	
	Details of prison inspections carried out between 199798 and 200102 per prison establishment are set out in the attached table. Unless there are exceptional circumstances, prisons are not normally inspected more than once a year.
	
		Number of inspections taken place between 199798 and 200102
		
			 Establishment No. of inspections Establishment No. of inspections 
		
		
			 Acklington 1 Frankland 2 
			 Albany 1 Full Sutton 0 
			 Altcourse 1 Garth 2 
			 Ashfield 1 Gartree 1 
			 Ashwell 1 Glen Parva 4 
			 Askham Grange 2 Gloucester 2 
			 Aylesbury 1 Grendon/Springhill 1 
			 Bedford 1 Guys Marsh 1 
			 Belmarsh 2 Haslar 2 
			 Birmingham 2 Hatfield 1 
			 Blakenhurst 3 Haverigg 2 
			 Blantyre House 1 Hewell Grange 2 
			 Blundeston 2 Highdown 2 
			 Brinsford 2 Highpoint 2 
			 Bristol 2 Hindley 2 
			
			 Brixton 2 Hollesley Bay 2 
			 Brockhill 4 Holloway 2 
			 Bullingdon 0 Holme House 1 
			 Bullwood Hall 2 Hull 0 
			 Camp Hill 1 Huntercombe 2 
			 Canterbury 2 Kingston 2 
			 Cardiff 2 Kirkham 2 
			 Castington 3 Kirklevington Grange 1 
			 Channings Wood 1 Lancaster Castle 1 
			 Chelmsford 3 Lancaster Farms 1 
			 Coldingley 1 Latchmere House 1 
			 Cookham Wood 2 Leeds 1 
			 Dartmoor 2 Leicester 2 
			 Deerbolt 1 Lewes 2 
			 Doncaster 2 Leyhill 1 
			 Dorchester 3 Lincoln 2 
			 Dovegate 0 Lindholme 2 
			 Dover 0 Littlehey 1 
			 Downview 1 Liverpool 1 
			 Drake Hall 1 Long Lartin 2 
			 Durham 1 Lowdham Grange 1 
			 East Sutton Park 1 Low Newton 2 
			 Eastwood Park 3 Maidstone 1 
			 Elmley 2 Manchester 2 
			 Erlestoke 3 Moorland 1 
			 Everthorpe 1 Morton Hall 0 
			 Exeter 3 Mount (The) 1 
			 Featherstone 2 New Hall 2 
			 Feltham 4 Northallerton 2 
			 Ford 2 North Sea Camp 1 
			 Forest Bank 0 Norwich 1 
			 Foston Hall 1 Nottingham 2 
			 Onley 2 Swaleside 0 
			 Parc 2 Swansea 2 
			 Parkhurst 1 Swinfen Hall 2 
			 Pentonville 2 Thorn Cross 1 
			 Portland 3 Usk and Prescoed 2 
			 Preston 2 Verne (The) 1 
			 Ranby 1 Wakefield 1 
			 Reading 2 Wandsworth 2 
			 Risley 2 Wayland 2 
			 Rochester 1 Wealstun 1 
			 Rye Hill 0 Weare (The) 2 
			 Send 2 Wellingborough 2 
			 Shepton Mallet 1 Werrington 2 
			 Shrewsbury 2 Wetherby 1 
			 (Spring Hill) combined with Grendon 1 Whatton 
			 Whitemoor 
			 Winchester 1 
			 1 
			 2 
			 Stafford 2 Wolds (The) 2 
			 Standford Hill 1 Woodhill 2 
			 Stocken 1 Wormwood Scrubs 3 
			 Stoke Heath 3 Wymott 2 
			 Styal 2  
			 Sudbury 2

Freemasons

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to require freemasons working in the police and criminal justice system to register their membership publicly; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: holding answer 18 June 2002
	Voluntary arrangements for the declaration of freemasonry membership have been established for the judiciary, the police, Prison Service and other parts of the criminal justice system. The Government has made no decisions about the format of and arrangements for public access to any registers.

Bigamy

Phil Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many cases of bigamy were dealt with in British courts in each of the past five years for which figures are available; and how many resulted in a conviction.
	(2)  how many people convicted of bigamy in British courts were sentenced to a term in prison in each of the past five years for which figures are available; and what was the average length of sentence.

Hilary Benn: The information requested, relating to England and Wales for the years 1996 to 2000, is given in the table.
	Statistics for 2001 will be available in the autumn.
	
		Persons proceeded against, convicted, sentenced to imprisonment and average sentence length at all courts for offences of bigamy(101), England and Wales 1996 to 2000
		
			Sentenced to imprisonment 
			 Year Proceeded against Convicted Total Average sentence length (months) 
		
		
			 1996 18 16 6 11.5 
			 1997 22 16 4 4.7 
			 1998 30 18 10 7.9 
			 1999 40 28 14 5.6 
			 2000(102) 17 12 4 5.0 
		
	
	(101)These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(102)Staffordshire Police were only able to supply a nine per cent. sample of data for magistrates' courts proceedings covering one full week in each quarter for 2000. Estimates based on this sample have been included in the figures in the table.

Ethnic Minorities

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) assaults and (b) other crimes with a racial motive were committed against Sikhs in the period 11 September to 31 December 2001 in England and Wales.

John Denham: holding answer 21 June 2002
	Information on assaults and other crimes with a racial motive is not collected by ethnic group other than the categories of White, Black, Asian, other and unknown.

Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to answer of 14 May 2002, Official Report, column 611W, what the average delay was for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority in relation to (a) deciding claims, (b) review of such decisions and (c) hearings challenging such decisions in each of the previous four years.

Hilary Benn: The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority advise that, using as the start and finish points the date of receipt of the application for the relevant stage and the date that the decision was issued, the average elapsed times for the financial years 199798 to 200001 were as follows:
	
		
			  Elapsed Time in Days 
			  199798 199899 19992000 200001 
		
		
			 Claims assessment 245 254 244 259 
			 Review 161 188 186 236 
			 Appeal 178 223 295 387

Drug Users (Merseyside)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many registered drug users there were on Merseyside in each year since 1994.

Jacqui Smith: I have been asked to reply.
	The term registered drug addict was based on the Home Office collection of data between 1968 and 1997. Since 1997, the description problem drug users has been used for people who present to treatment services.
	Nationally, the number of individuals in drug treatment has been estimated from the number of reports made to the regional drug misuse database, which records information on an individual for the first time that person visits an agency, and for the first re-visit in six months or more. These data, therefore, underestimate the total number of individuals receiving specialist drug treatment in any given year. The number of reports made to the Merseyside and Cheshire drug misuse database by Merseyside drug treatment agencies is shown in the table:
	
		Number of individuals accessing Merseyside drug treatment services
		
			 Year Number of people 
		
		
			 1994 1,323 
			 1995 1,110 
			 1996 1,273 
			 1997 1,298 
			 1998 1,914 
			 1999 1,906 
			 2000 2,103 
		
	
	In 1996, an additional drug treatment monitoring database, which was prevalence-based, was established in Merseyside and Cheshire. The period prevalence database records information from drug treatment agencies on individuals seen by the agency within a year, regardless of how long they have been in contact with services. These figures give the numbers of individuals receiving structured treatment in-year. The numbers for Merseyside drug treatment agencies were as follows:
	
		
			 Year Number of people 
		
		
			 1997 5,238 
			 1998 5,505 
			 1999 5,241 
			 2000 5,656

Sentencing (Foreign Nationals)

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy regarding the serving of sentences imposed by British courts on foreign nationals in their own countries.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 27 June 2002
	We have bilateral prisoner transfer agreements with 66 countries. Requests from prisoners who are nationals of these countries to serve their sentences in their own country are normally approved where they meet the criteria set out in the relevant agreement, namely: prisoners must normally be a nationals of the country concerned; have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment which is final and enforceable (i.e. no outstanding appeals against conviction or sentence); and have at least six months left to serve at the time the application is submitted. Decisions on individual applications require the consent of both jurisdictions. It is at present our policy normally to refuse requests if, as a consequence, the prisoner would be likely to receive a significant reduction in time to serve.
	We are working to increase the number of countries with whom we have repatriation agreements and expect to have signed up to nine more agreements in the course of this year.

Parliamentary Questions

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will answer the question from the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South of 20 May, reference number 58559, on Metropolitan Police officers; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: With apologies for the delay in responding I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 22 July 2002, Official Report, column 829W.

Parliamentary Questions

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will answer the question from the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South of 25 March, reference number 46442, on anti-social behaviour orders; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: With apologies for the delay in responding I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 18 July 2002, Official Report, column 557W.

Corporate Killing

David Lepper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to (a) complete the review of the law in relation to corporate killing and (b) introduce legislation on corporate killing.

Hilary Benn: (a) The Government's Proposals were published in a consultation document in May 2000. The consultation period ended in September 2000, and an interdepartmental group has examined the issues raised by the consultation and other unresolved areas. The group has now completed its work. We will be publishing a digest of responses to the consultation paper shortly.
	(b) The Government is committed to introducing legislation to increase corporate liability for manslaughter, and will do so when parliamentary time allows.

Prison Service

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in each prison establishment are held (a) two to a single cell and (b) three to a double cell.

Hilary Benn: The table shows the number of prisoners in each prison establishment held two to a cell designed for one and total overcrowding at the end of May 2002. Data are provisional and subject to validation by prisons.
	The Prison Service does not collect centrally the number of prisoners held three in a double cell. Prisons report the total overcrowding level, which includes prisoners held three to a cell for two and those overcrowded in dormitories and larger cells.
	
		
			 Prison name Two to a cell designed for one Total Overcrowding 
		
		
			 Acklington 0 0 
			 Albany 0 0 
			 Altcourse 0 0 
			 Ashfield 0 0 
			 Ashwell 0 0 
			 Askham Grange 0 0 
			 Aylesbury 0 0 
			 Bedford 184 184 
			 Belmarsh 0 417 
			 Birmingham 368 368 
			 Blakenhurst 198 198 
			 Blantyre House 0 0 
			 Blundeston 40 134 
			 Brinsford 36 36 
			 Bristol 86 86 
			 Brixton 232 232 
			 Brockhill 0 0 
			 Buckley Hall 0 0 
			 Bullingdon 80 336 
			 Bullwood Hall 0 0 
			 Camp Hill 268 268 
			 Canterbury 256 256 
			 Cardiff 268 268 
			 Castington 0 0 
			 Channings Wood 46 46 
			 Chelmsford 0 192 
			 Coldingley 0 0 
			 Cookham Wood 20 20 
			 Dartmoor 42 42 
			 Deerbolt 0 0 
			 Doncaster 0 0 
			 Dorchester 192 192 
			 Dovegate 0 0 
			 Dover 0 0 
			 Downview 0 0 
			 Drake Hall 0 0 
			 Durham 362 362 
			 East Sutton Park 0 0 
			 Eastwood Park 60 60 
			 Elmley 240 240 
			 Erlestoke 12 12 
			 Everthorpe 48 48 
			 Exeter 0 366 
			 Featherstone 0 0 
			 Feltham 0 0 
			 Ford 0 0 
			 Forest Bank 0 0 
			 Foston Hall 0 0 
			 Frankland 0 0 
			 Full Sutton 0 0 
			 Garth 26 26 
			 Gartree 0 0 
			 Glen Parva 444 444 
			
			 Gloucester 192 192 
			 Grendon 0 0 
			 Guys Marsh 82 82 
			 Haslar 0 0 
			 Hatfield 0 0 
			 Haverigg 20 20 
			 Hewell Grange 0 0 
			 High Down 0 177 
			 Highpoint 48 224 
			 Hindley 0 0 
			 Hollesley Bay 0 0 
			 Holloway 0 0 
			 Holme House 168 168 
			 Hull 324 355 
			 Huntercombe 0 0 
			 Kingston 0 0 
			 Kirkham 0 0 
			 Kirklevington 0 0 
			 Lancaster 0 0 
			 Lancaster Farms 48 48 
			 Latchmere House 0 0 
			 Leeds 964 964 
			 Leicester 340 340 
			 Lewes 98 100 
			 Leyhill 0 0 
			 Lincoln 316 316 
			 Lindholme 0 0 
			 Littlehey 56 56 
			 Liverpool 506 506 
			 Long Lartin 0 0 
			 Low Newton 96 96 
			 Lowdham Grange 0 0 
			 Maidstone 0 0 
			 Manchester 688 688 
			 Moorland 50 50 
			 Morton Hall 0 0 
			 Mount 86 86 
			 New Hall 60 60 
			 North Sea Camp 0 0 
			 Northallerton 152 152 
			 Norwich 392 392 
			 Nottingham 228 228 
			 Onley 0 0 
			 Parc 0 0 
			 Parkhurst 0 0 
			 Pentonville 506 506 
			
			 Portland 0 0 
			 Preston 588 592 
			 Ranby 96 96 
			 Reading 146 146 
			 Risley 34 34 
			 Rochester 0 0 
			 Rye Hill 0 0 
			 Send 0 0 
			 Shepton Mallet 46 46 
			 Shrewsbury 312 312 
			 Stafford 0 0 
			 Standford Hill 0 0 
			 Stocken 26 52 
			 Stoke Heath 80 80 
			 Styal 18 18 
			 Sudbury 0 0 
			 Swaleside 24 24 
			 Swansea 302 302 
			 Swinfen Hall 0 0 
			 Thorn Cross 0 0 
			 Usk 166 166 
			 Verne 58 58 
			 Wakefield 0 0 
			 Wandsworth 0 0 
			 Wayland 72 72 
			 Wealstun 0 0 
			 Weare 0 0 
			 Wellingborough 0 0 
			 Werrington 0 0 
			 Wetherby 0 0 
			 Whatton 0 0 
			 Whitemoor 0 0 
			 Winchester 352 352 
			 Wolds 0 0 
			 Woodhill 164 164 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 0 0 
			 Wymott 0 0

Prison Service

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of (a) prisoners and (b) prison staff in each prison establishment in England and Wales are from minority ethnic groups.

Hilary Benn: The population breakdown for each prison establishment in England and Wales for 31 May 2002, by minority ethnic group is given in the table:
	
		
			 Prison Name Total White (per cent.) Black (per cent.) Asian (per cent.) Chinese and Other (per cent.) 
		
		
			 Acklington 763 96 1 2 0  
			 Albany 439 93 5 1 1  
			 Altcourse 920 96 3 1 0  
			 Ashfield 386 89 8 1 2  
			 Ashwell 482 78 16 6 0  
			 Askham Grange 134 76 18 2 3  
			 Aylesbury 349 57 33 7 4  
			 Bedford 447 76 13 8 3  
			 Belmarsh 858 57 31 6 6  
			 Birmingham 907 69 19 11 2  
			 Blakenhurst 850 79 12 8 1  
			 Blantyre House 120 75 20 4 1  
			 Blundestone 419 52 41 3 3  
			 Brinsford 465 70 20 10 0  
			 Bristol 590 84 14 1 1  
			 Brixton 760 44 42 5 9  
			 Brockhill 154 80 12 5 3  
			 Buckley Hall 162 79 17 1 3  
			 Bullingdon 919 72 20 6 2  
			 Bullwood Hall 172 68 24 1 7  
			 Camp Hill 531 62 32 2 4  
			
			 Canterbury 305 87 8 3 2  
			 Cardiff 670 91 5 3 2  
			 Castington 329 92 4 2 1  
			 Channings Wood 617 93 5 1 1  
			 Chelmsford 562 77 16 4 4  
			 Coldingley 375 59 36 2 3  
			 Cookham Wood 131 44 45 1 9  
			 Dartmoor 609 88 8 2 1  
			 Deerbolt 480 93 5 2 1  
			 Doncaster 1,113 88 6 5 1  
			 Dorchester 259 92 6 2 1  
			 Dovegate 723 70 23 5 3  
			 Dover(103) 88 67 5 25 4  
			 Downview 261 44 50 2 4  
			 Drake Hall 291 80 17 3 0  
			 Durham 711 96 3 1 1  
			 East Sutton Park 97 55 36 4 5  
			 Eastwood Park 314 85 15 0 0  
			 Elmley 949 82 12 4 2  
			 Erlestoke 331 87 10 3 1  
			 Everthorpe 375 88 6 6 1  
			 Exeter 514 97 3 1 0  
			 Featherstone 603 77 14 8 0  
			 Feltham 592 43 43 7 8  
			 Ford 513 76 13 7 4  
			 Forest Bank 1,024 87 7 5 0  
			 Foston Hall 218 83 15 0 2  
			 Frankland 634 87 8 3 2  
			 Full Sutton 598 81 13 4 2  
			 Garth 659 84 10 6 1  
			 Gartree 278 87 5 7 1  
			 Glen Parva 801 81 14 4 1  
			 Gloucester 321 92 5 3 0  
			 Grendon/Spring Hill 453 83 10 6 2  
			 Guys Marsh 518 83 14 3 0  
			 Haslar 138 34 27 29 10  
			 Hatfield 173 86 6 8 0  
			 Haverigg 556 95 3 2 0  
			 Hewell Grange 190 70 14 16 1  
			 Highdown 732 61 32 5 2  
			 Highpoint 891 62 31 2 5  
			 Hindley 527 83 12 5 0  
			 Hollesley Bay 411 78 16 4 3  
			 Holloway 479 57 33 2 7  
			 Holme House 998 95 3 2 0  
			 Hull 643 95 3 2 1  
			 Huntercombe 343 53 33 10 4  
			 Kingston(Portsmouth) 182 86 9 3 2  
			 Kirkham 509 90 3 7 0  
			 Kirklevington 182 95 2 4 0  
			 Lancaster 243 95 1 4 0  
			 Lancaster Farms 460 90 5 3 1  
			 Latchmere House 190 60 28 8 4  
			 Leeds 1,262 84 6 10 0  
			 Leicester 369 76 13 9 2  
			 Lewes 536 85 11 3 1  
			 Leyhill 432 91 5 4 0  
			 Lincoln 551 96 3 2 0  
			 Lindholme 686 81 7 9 3  
			 Littlehey 645 79 14 5 2  
			 Liverpool 1,461 90 7 3 1  
			 Long Lartin 422 71 18 7 4  
			 Low Newton 294 95 4 0 0  
			 Lowdham Grange 519 70 20 7 4  
			 Maidstone 444 70 20 4 6  
			 Manchester 1,252 82 11 6 1  
			 Moorland 769 81 11 7 1  
			 Morton Hall 195 42 53 1 5  
			 New Hall 369 90 7 1 2  
			 North Sea Camp 225 84 6 10 0  
			 Northallerton 232 91 4 4 0  
			 Norwich 745 84 11 3 2  
			 Nottingham 510 83 13 3 1  
			
			 Onley 482 73 20 5 2  
			 Parc 951 96 3 1 0  
			 Parkhurst 511 65 26 5 4  
			 Pentonville 1,157 43 39 8 9  
			 Portland 427 62 29 6 3  
			 Preston 619 92 2 5 0  
			 Ranby 743 87 8 5 0  
			 Reading 251 80 12 6 2  
			 Risley 827 86 9 4 0  
			 Rochester 158 58 20 10 12  
			 Rye Hill 658 67 17 10 6  
			 Send 217 40 52 2 6  
			 Shepton Mallet 182 90 7 2 2  
			 Shrewsbury 342 91 6 2 1  
			 Stafford 636 78 16 6 0  
			 Standford Hill 351 62 24 7 7  
			 Stocken 579 81 10 7 1  
			 Stoke Heath 646 87 9 3 1  
			 Styal 442 85 12 1 2  
			 Sudbury 515 79 9 11 1  
			 Swaleside 772 63 26 6 5  
			 Swansea 365 98 1 1 1  
			 Swinfen Hall 311 71 20 9 0  
			 The Mount 758 47 40 8 5  
			 The Verne 587 51 39 2 9  
			 The Weare 398 73 22 2 3  
			 The Wolds 409 95 3 1 1  
			 Thorn Cross 210 80 8 10 1  
			 Usk/Prescoed 340 96 2 2 0  
			 Wakefield 569 87 9 2 1  
			 Wandsworth 1,460 55 31 3 11  
			 Wayland 650 70 21 4 4  
			 Wealstun 622 84 6 9 0  
			 Wellingborough 523 79 15 4 1  
			 Werrington 126 91 8 1 0  
			 Wetherby 348 81 10 8 1  
			 Whatton 273 96 3 1 0  
			 Whitemoor 421 71 18 6 5  
			 Winchester 638 81 14 2 2  
			 Woodhill 743 77 14 6 3  
			 Wormwood Scrubs 1,184 36 45 11 7  
			 Wymott 803 92 3 4 1  
			 Total Population 71,112 78 15 5 2  
			 Total Population 71,112 78 15 5 2  
		
	
	(103)Percentages as at 31 March 2002, due to atypical figures for May 2002 whilst Dover changed from Male Young Offenders Institution to Male Immigration Removal Centre.
	The prison service staff breakdown for each establishment in England and Wales for 31 May 2002 is in the table:
	
		
			 Prison Name White Minority Ethnic Not Stated(104) Non Respondents(105) All Staff Per cent. Minority Ethnic(106) 
		
		
			 Acklington 358 9 20  387 2.3  
			 Albany 267 3 5 1 276 1.1  
			 Altcourse(107) 441 3   444 0.7  
			 Ashfield(107) 239 8   247 3.2  
			 Ashwell 208 5 28 1 242 2.1  
			 Askham Grange 79 2   81 2.5  
			 Aylesbury 272 23 39 2 336 6.8  
			 Bedford 72 7 160  239 2.9  
			 Belmarsh 791 83 17  891 9.3  
			 Birmingham 382 54 54 2 492 11.0  
			 Blakenhurst 262 12 9  283 4.2  
			 Blantyre House 64 2 1 2 69 2.9  
			 Blundeston 268 9   277 3.2  
			 Brinsford 338 34 25 1 398 8.5  
			 Bristol 500 14 12 1 527 2.7  
			 Brixton 327 96 13 9 445 21.6  
			 Brockhill 150 8 6 3 167 4.8  
			
			 Buckley Hall 73 6 128  207 2.9  
			 Bullingdon 277 17 110  404 4.2  
			 Bullwood Hall 154 9 2 3 168 5.4  
			 Camp Hill 269 2   271 0.7  
			 Canterbury 188 4 1  193 2.1  
			 Cardiff 396 8   404 2.0  
			 Castington 328 3 22 1 354 0.8  
			 Channings Wood 304 4 8 8 324 1.2  
			 Chelmsford 289 13 30  332 3.9  
			 Coldingley 196 6   202 3.0  
			 Cookham Wood 87 2  1 90 2.2  
			 Dartmoor 297 9 49 6 361 2.5  
			 Deerbolt 281 2   283 0.7  
			 Doncaster(107) 598 23   621 3.7  
			 Dorchester 153 1 9  163 0.6  
			 Dovegate(107) 389 19   408 4.7  
			 Dover 178 6 11 2 197 3.0  
			 Downview 156 7 3 2 168 4.2  
			 Drake Hall 161 3 15 7 186 1.6  
			 Durham 347 6 362  715 0.8  
			 East Sutton Park 48 1 14  63 1.6  
			 Eastwood Park 230 5   235 2.1  
			 Elmley 440 13 3  456 2.9  
			 Erlestoke 150 5 22 12 189 2.6  
			 Everthorpe 240 2 1  243 0.8  
			 Exeter 293 3 21 5 322 0.9  
			 Featherstone 311 11 4  326 3.4  
			 Feltham 464 104 92  660 15.8  
			 Ford 173 4 1  178 2.2  
			 Forest Bank(107) 348 10   358 2.8  
			 Foston Hall 180 7   187 3.7  
			 Frankland 734 13 46  793 1.6  
			 Full Sutton 694 3 79 8 784 0.4  
			 Garth 361 10 43 1 415 2.4  
			 Gartree 225 7 30  262 2.7  
			 Glen Parva 448 25 34  507 4.9  
			 Gloucester 197 4 25 1 227 1.8  
			 Grendon 259 16 21  296 5.4  
			 Guys Marsh 193 9 61  263 3.4  
			 Haslar 88 3 2  93 3.2  
			 Hatfield 56 3 17  76 3.9  
			 Haverigg 202 3 89  294 1.0  
			 Hewell Grange 67  15 1 83 0.0  
			 Highdown 450 53 27 2 532 10.0  
			 Highpoint 363 7 1 1 372 1.9  
			 Highpoint North 131 7   138 5.1  
			 Hindley 392 10 54  456 2.2  
			 Hollesley Bay 303 10 30 1 344 2.9  
			 Holloway 245 134 81 6 466 28.8  
			 Holme House 464 4 28  496 0.8  
			 Hull 413 10 46 2 471 2.1  
			 Huntercombe 232 15 6 2 255 5.9  
			 Kingston 111 3 25  139 2.2  
			 Kirkham 242  5 1 248 0.0  
			 Kirklevington 88 1 5  94 1.1  
			 Lancaster 149 3 8  160 1.9  
			 Lancaster Farms 97 3 255  355 0.8  
			 Latchmere House 74 5 1 3 83 6.0  
			 Leeds 659 23 5  687 3.3  
			 Leicester 221 14 7  242 5.8  
			 Lewes 262 11 13  286 3.8  
			 Leyhill 182 3 5  190 1.6  
			 Lincoln 327 5 28  360 1.4  
			 Lindholme 358 4 63  425 0.9  
			 Littlehey 268 11 6 4 289 3.8  
			 Liverpool 756 10 9  775 1.3  
			 Long Lartin 650 17 1  668 2.5  
			 Low Newton 232 1   233 0.4  
			 Lowdham Grange(107) 278 10   288 3.6  
			 Maidstone 256 15 76  347 4.3  
			 Manchester 679 20 25 1 725 2.8  
			 Moorland 450 11 18 6 485 2.3  
			
			 Morton Hall 149 7 2  158 4.4  
			 New Hall 301 3 13 5 322 0.9  
			 North Sea Camp 91  2 7 100 0.0  
			 Northallerton 140 1   141 0.7  
			 Norwich 344 6 56 15 421 1.4  
			 Nottingham 299 14 17  330 4.2  
			 Onley 385 18 4  407 4.4  
			 Parc(107) 410 5   415 1.2  
			 Parkhurst 288 6 27 14 335 1.8  
			 Pentonville 430 167 6 2 605 27.6  
			 Portland 275 6 50 1 332 1.8  
			 Preston 347 8 22 7 384 2.1  
			 Ranby 376 7 8 10 401 1.7  
			 Reading 155 7 31  193 3.6  
			 Risley 457 9 54  520 1.7  
			 Rochester 278 14 6  298 4.7  
			 Rye Hill(107) 190 8   198 4.0  
			 Send 116 3 7 1 127 2.4  
			 Shepton Mallet 137 4 5  146 2.7  
			 Shrewsbury 190 4 1 9 204 2.0  
			 Stafford 292 6 21 9 328 1.8  
			 Standford Hill 176 3 18 7 204 1.5  
			 Stocken 226 8 34  268 3.0  
			 Stoke Heath 396 11  13 420 2.6  
			 Styal 307 22 2  331 6.6  
			 Sudbury 168 7 13  188 3.7  
			 Swaleside 321 24 46 1 392 6.1  
			 Swansea 228 1   229 0.4  
			 Swinfen Hall 205 5 25  235 2.1  
			 The Mount 283 14 12 3 312 4.5  
			 The Verne 266 2 17  285 0.7  
			 Thorn Cross 213 5 3  221 2.3  
			 Usk/Prescoed 189 5 5  199 2.5  
			 Wakefield 532 14 95  641 2.2  
			 Wandsworth 488 105 59 12 664 15.8  
			 Wayland 272 3 35  310 1.0  
			 Wealstun 135 1 171  307 0.3  
			 The Weare 181 6 25  212 2.8  
			 The Wolds(107) 158 2   160 1.5  
			 Wellingborough 257 10 3 1 271 3.7  
			 Werrington 165 2 5  172 1.2  
			 Wetherby 231 8 28 2 269 3.0  
			 Whatton 136 1 6  143 0.7  
			 Whitemoor 721 20 19 14 774 2.6  
			 Winchester 351 6 21  378 1.6  
			 Woodhill 539 24 52 1 616 3.9  
			 Wormwood Scrubs 422 120 9  551 21.8  
			 Wymott 333 11 60  404 2.7  
			 Total Prison Staff 39,421 1,946 3,682 243 45,292 4.3  
			 Head Quarters 1,848 336 227 2 2,413 13.9  
		
	
	(104)Refers to staff who have requested that their ethnicity is not recorded.
	(105)Refers to staff who have had no ethnicity data collected.
	(106)Percentage of all staff including those with no ethnicity data recorded.
	(107)Refers to staff employed at private establishments as at the 2 July 2002.

Prison Service

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Prison Service has a public interest disclosure policy.

Hilary Benn: The Prison Service routinely discloses material to the public via its Libraries in Headquarters and establishments, and the internet. The Prison Service complies with the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information and the Data Protection Act 1998, and is actively preparing for implementation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Prison Service

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Prison Service keeps a certified record of allegations of assaults committed by staff.

Hilary Benn: The Prison Service does not collate centrally a certified record of allegations of assaults committed by staff. However, the Prison Service Investigations Unit collate the number of investigations logged in respect of allegations of assaults committed by staff. Figures are also collated in respect of the number of allegations of assault that have resulted in formal disciplinary action being taken.

Prison Service

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will bring forward legislation which would make the obtaining of DNA samples without consent an offence.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 4 July 2002
	The Human Genetics Commission's Report, Inside Informationbalancing interests in the use of personal genetic data has recommended the creation of a new criminal offence of the non-consensual or deceitful obtaining or analysis of genetic information for non-medical purposes.
	We are currently considering this proposal and will respond to the Human Genetics Commission's report in due course.

Telephone Taps

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to equalise the law of evidence on the admissability in criminal trials of telephone taps carried out (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) abroad.

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to liaise with ministers from the European Community on harmonizing laws on admitting the results of telephone taps in evidence in criminal trials.

Hilary Benn: The Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters between Member States of the European Union, signed by Justice and Home Affairs Ministers in May 2000, contains a number of detailed provisions relating to interception of communications.
	The United Kingdom is currently considering how best to implement these provisions as part of bringing the Convention into force in United Kingdom Law.

Telephone Taps

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to make the products of United Kingdom telephone taps admissible in evidence in criminal trials.

Hilary Benn: Section 17 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) prohibits the evidentiary use of intercept product in legal proceedings in the United Kingdom.
	This position, is kept under review.

STEPS Contract

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the maintenance charges are for the probation STEPS contract during normal working hours; what the call out charge is between 6 pm and 10 pm; what the charge is for a Saturday and a Sunday call out; what the charge is in relation to an office relocation; what assessment he has made of the value for money of the contract with Bull/Integris for these matters; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 2 July 2002
	It is normal in contracts such as these for the information requested to be covered by commercial confidentiality clauses. However, recent press reports on this subject have been so inaccurate and misleading that both the supplier and the National Probation Directorate felt it appropriate to correct some specific points.
	The Standard Technical Environment for the Probation Service (STEPS) contract provides the foundation for the development of Information Technology (IT) in the probation service. Earlier this year it became one of the first contracts to pass through the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) Gateway process, set up to scrutinise Government contracts for value and purpose.
	The core support hours for the contract are MondayFriday from 8am to 6pm. The maintenance charges to extend these hours to provide full service cover for a whole office between 6 and 10 pm on a weeknight would be 2,661. On a Saturday the cost to support the entire network of 15,000 desktops across England and Wales would be 8,704. On a Sunday, the same cost would be 11,600. To deliver this service the supplier has to provide people on call around the country, responding to incidents and resolving problems. These costs would only be paid should this work be needed. To date, in the lifetime of this contract, it has not been. The cost to move a workstation would be 192. By any standards this contract represents good value for money.

STEPS Contract

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the financial position of Bull/Integris was taken into account before the Standard Technical Environment for the Probation Service contract was let on 1 January; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 2 July 2002
	The National Probation Directorate commissioned the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) to assess the financial position of Groupe Bull and it's subsidiary Bull Information Systems (including the business division Integris) prior to the shortlisting of service providers for the STEPS contracts.
	After shortlisting and prior to award of the STEPS contracts, the National Probation Directorate commissioned a firm of forensic accountants to evaluate the financial risks regarding the sale of Integris by Bull Information Systems to Steria.
	On-going financial checks will be carried out on Integris (now renamed as Steria following the change of ownership) throughout the life of the STEPS contracts.

Criminal Records (Disclosure)

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the outstanding disclosure applications from Wirral borough council social services department to the Criminal Records Bureau will be processed; how large the backlog is of applications awaiting processing; and what the most recent average figure is for how long the processing procedure takes.

Hilary Benn: Correctly completed applications are currently processed typically within six weeks; this time-scale applies to Wirral Borough Council Social Services. Around 70,000 Disclosure applications which have gone past the published delivery times (one week for standard Disclosures and three weeks for enhanced) remain to be completed.

Ex-Prisoners (Suicide)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people committed suicide in 2001 within one year of leaving prison in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: No information is held centrally on the suicide of prisoners after release from prison.
	However, a recent research study found that during 1996 and 1997, 34 ex-prisoners died from self-inflicted injury whilst receiving statutory post-release supervision by the Probation Service. Data on the number of days between release and self-inflicted death was available for 32 cases: 28 prisoners died within one year of release.
	Further details of this research are available in Home Office Research Study 231 which can be found on the Home Office website. Adult prisoners serving custodial sentences of less than 12 months were excluded from this study because they do not receive statutory post-release supervision. Self-inflicted death includes all verdicts of suicide, death by misadventure, accidental deaths and open verdicts.

Ex-Prisoners (Suicide)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response he has made to the Howard League's recent report on suicide following prison release; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The Government welcomes this report for the attention it rightly gives to the issue of suicide prevention. The National Probation Service is using it to inform the work it is doing in this area, which includes commissioning more detailed research into deaths in approved premises and the preparation of interim guidance on the reporting of and prevention of deaths.
	The National Probation Service is also working with the Prison Service to improve arrangements for the release of prisoners into approved premises. Consideration is also being given to how investigations into deaths in custody and in approved hostels may be strengthened.

Life Prisoners

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many prisoners serving life sentences in England and Wales have had to wait (a) between three months and six months, (b) between six months and one year, (c) between one year and two years and (d) in excess of two years, for his Department to decide whether to accept a Parole Board recommendation of that prisoner's transfer to open conditions in each of the last five years.
	(2)  what procedures have been put in place to enable a prisoner serving a life sentence in England and Wales who has been removed from open conditions to put his case against such removal to the Parole Board prior to his next formal Parole Board review.
	(3)  how many prisoners serving life sentences in England and Wales have been returned to closed conditions for alleged misdemeanours occurring after a prior transfer to open conditions and/or release on licence, in each of the last five years; and what the nature of the alleged misdemeanour was in each such case.
	(4)  how many prisoners serving life sentences in England and Wales have had to wait (a) between three months and six months, (b) between six months and one year, (c) between one year and two years and (d) in excess of two years, for notification of the outcome of their Parole Board review in each of the last five years.
	(5)  what (a) the average time and (b) the longest time which his Department has taken to decide upon Parole Board recommendations in respect of prisoners serving life sentences in England and Wales was in each of the last five years.

Hilary Benn: The procedures for those life sentence prisoners removed from open conditions are set out in Chapter 4 of the Lifer Manual (Prison Service Order 4700). I have arranged for a copy of this to be placed in the Library.
	Released life sentence prisoners are recalled to prison because they are deemed to present an unacceptable risk to public safety. In some cases this will involve criminal offences and other factors giving cause for concern of risk of harm either to specific individuals or the public at large. The numbers of lifers recalled in the past five years are as follows:
	
		
			  
		
		
			 1 April 200131 March 2002 26 
			 1 April 200031 March 2001 35 
			 1 April 199931 March 2000 39 
			 1 April 199831 March 1999 35 
			 1 April 199731 March 1998 20 
		
	
	This represents around three per cent. of the total number of lifers under supervision in the community.
	Her Majesty's Prison Service does not hold centrally information on the reasons for recall in each case. The other information requested is not held centrally in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost by examining the individual records of the prisoners concerned.

Probation Service

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of suicide and self-harm there were in Probation Service-approved hostels in 2001 in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: In 2001, 21 deaths of approved hostel residents were reported. Of these three were recorded as suicide, and a further 12 as a result of drug overdoses. Of the remaining six, five were from apparently natural causes and one resident died in a road traffic accident.
	We do not keep a central record of incidents of self-harm in approved hostels.

Probation Service

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were under post-release supervision by the Probation Service last year in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The number of people under post-release supervision by the Probation Service in England and Wales was 28,800 at the end of December 2000, the latest date for which complete information is available.

Victims

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what systems are in place to inform victims about the release from hospital of a person who has committed serious offences whilst insane.

Hilary Benn: There is currently no system for informing victims about the release from hospital of a person who has committed serious offences whilst insane, as this information has been considered to be subject to medical confidentiality. However, the Government believes that victims of their offending should have the same rights to information as victims of any other serious offending. On 25 June we announced proposals to that effect in the consultation paper accompanying the Mental Health Bill.

Probation Services

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the extent of the funding shortfall for 200203 in probation services in (a) England, (b) the West Midlands and (c) London; what the implications of this are for provision of services in (i) Crown courts and (ii) magistrates' courts; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Funding for probation services in 200203 has increased by five per cent. in England; 5.9 per cent. in West Midlands; and 4.3 per cent. in London over the allocations for the previous year. Some areas are experiencing funding pressures due to increased costs. Following risk assessments and prioritisation, courts may find that they are asked to accept that services may be delivered using different reporting arrangements, but there should be no adverse implications for the delivery of those services to courts.

Police

David Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Metropolitan Police officers serving with its Firearms Branch are suspended because they have discharged a gun; and how long each officer has been suspended.

John Denham: holding answer 25 May 2002
	The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that there are no Metropolitan Police officers within the SO19 Firearms Branch who are suspended from police duties as a result of firearms incidents. There are currently eight SO19 officers removed from operational firearms duties and on restricted duties pending the completion of investigations into incidents involving the discharge of a firearm.

Police

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish estimates of customer satisfaction for each English police authority in each of the years 199091 to 200102 in relation to (a) 999 calls response, (b) victims of violent crime, (c) victims of domestic burglary and (d) victims of theft; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: holding answer 8 July 2002
	The information requested is only available from 1993 and is shown in the table. It covers nearly all police authority areas in England and Wales; gaps in information are shown.
	
		HMIC Matrix of Indicators -- N/A
		
			1993   199495   
			 Forces BVPI 134 No. of 999 calls received BVPI 23a per cent. Public satisfied 999 calls BVPI 23b Victims of violence per cent. satisfied BVPI 23c Victims burgdwell per cent. satisfied BVPI 134 No. of 999 calls received BVPI 23a per cent. Public satisfied 999 calls BVPI 23b Victims of violence per cent. satisfied BVPI 23c Victims burgdwell per cent. satisfied 
		
		
			 England and Wales 5,297,040 88 82 93 6,088,654 89 90 90 
			 Avon and Somerset 88,235 94 88 94 159,800 91 79 90 
			 Bedfordshire 43,200 94 79 94 51,192 94 83 93 
			 Cambridgeshire 53,504 92 93 97 58,805 95 92 96 
			 Cheshire 75,09480,035 85  93 
			 City of London   8991  
			 Cleveland 67,398 78 79 80 84,346 77 84 91 
			 Cumbria 33,985 69 91 86 34,729 92 90 81 
			 Derbyshire 49,457 92 96 96  88 90 96 
			 Devon and Cornwall 102,391 91 82 93 121,798 86 83 93 
			 Dorset 55,155 78 94 94 54,791 85 71 94 
			 Durham 29,447 73 82 81 29,923
			 Dyfed-Powys 21,231 95 100 95 24,068 94 97 97 
			 Essex 110,005114,883 87   
			 Gloucestershire 40,462 79 80 92 45,388 77 82 90 
			 Greater Manchester 416,873 78 84 93 446,345 82 81 95 
			 Gwent 32,191 94  93 35,360 86  79 
			 Hampshire 162,082170,560 86  97 
			 Hertfordshire 67,610 84 80 88 77,071 80 94 92 
			 Humberside 85,632 73 68 69 88,402 75 80 83 
			 Kent 130,015 81 87 94 141,769 98 91 87 
			 Lancashire 71,986 81 77 86 102,984 86 84 92 
			
			 Leicestershire 100,232 86  87 114,314 83  85 
			 Lincolnshire 34,694 75 71 84 45,828 91 82 92 
			 Merseyside 200,711 92  96 220,432 81  96 
			 Metropolitan Police 1,347,207 92 86 92 1,538,385 92 92 91 
			 Norfolk 37,143 98 86 93 48,984 97 85 95 
			 North Wales 39,945 86 86 92 40,575 86 82 88 
			 North Yorkshire 31,956 91 92 97 56,646 87 94 95 
			 Northamptonshire 25,027 83 85 90 32,256 97 88 92 
			 Northumbria 213,369 94  95 224,569
			 Nottinghamshire 119,489 92 92 97 115,695 87 81 90 
			 South Wales 150,370158,006
			 South Yorkshire 123,144 67 38 68 149,178
			 Staffordshire 58,935 91 93 95 65,266 90 84 92 
			 Suffolk 27,52130,253 93 85 92 
			 Surrey 56,182 97 100 98 67,268 99 100 100 
			 Sussex 94,251 88 87 96 138,265 88 96 97 
			 Thames Valley 125,754 87 89 85 195,016 83 84 95 
			 Warwickshire 43,46848,870 85 90 92 
			 West Mercia 80,894 90 76 92 98,539 90 77 89 
			 West Midlands 358,009 81  85 412,211 87 80 96 
			 West Yorkshire 267,786 84 92 94 323,081 83 71 85 
			 Wiltshire 25,000   98 42,768 93 89 98 
		
	
	
		HMIC Matrix of Indicators -- N/A
		
			199596   199697   
			 Forces BVPI 134 No. of 999 calls received BVPI 23a per cent. Public satisfied 999 calls BVPI 23b Victims of violence per cent. satisfied BVPI 23c Victims burgdwell per cent. satisfied BVPI 134 No. of 999 calls received BVPI 23a per cent. Public satisfied 999 calls BVPI 23b Victims of violence per cent. satisfied BVPI 23c Victims burgdwell per cent. satisfied 
		
		
			 England and Wales 6,881,163 87 84 92 7,302,078 87 83 92 
			 Avon and Somerset 195,095 88 79 94 197,706 85 83 92 
			 Bedfordshire 34,466 93 81 94 59,863 91 79 92 
			 Cambridgeshire 73,923 89 74 84 79,332 88 74 84 
			 Cheshire 90,243 80  86 94,953 85 91 89 
			 City of London   100 90   73 98 
			 Cleveland 87,253 80 79 87 89,061 94 90 95 
			 Cumbria 37,047 82 96 82 37,749 94 92 92 
			 Derbyshire 94,632 87 83 95 96,746 89 88 95 
			 Devon and Cornwall 148,381 87 83 96 165,013 86 89 95 
			 Dorset 71,700 84 91 94 71,362 81 79 92 
			 Durham 31,424 85 87 88 46,178
			 Dyfed-Powys 25,208 93 74 97 25,374 90 91 98 
			 Essex 121,934 85 90 98 129,165 83 92 98 
			 Gloucestershire 46,678 76 82 94 62,790 75 80 90 
			 Greater Manchester 500,820 83 91 96 501,093 82 85 95 
			 Gwent 36,088 92 92  53,471 89  93 
			 Hampshire 191,090 88 84 97 211,000 88 81 98 
			 Hertfordshire 87,256 80 84 91 101,283 77 85 86 
			 Humberside 87,653 76 71 78 100,097 75 72 82 
			 Kent 161,149 97 85 97 170,908 98 86 98 
			 Lancashire 156,349 90 87 89 132,194 90 87 90 
			 Leicestershire 129,686 79  82 130,940 83 81 87 
			 Lincolnshire 46,556 94 88 90 46,102 90 84 90 
			 Merseyside 251,985 79 86 90 326,654 76 82 94 
			 Metropolitan Police 1,681,620 93 83 92 1,772,871 92 86 92 
			 Norfolk 56,261 97 83 94 63,684 94 90 94 
			 North Wales 42,864 98 65 83 48,131 90 77 87 
			 North Yorkshire 60,561 87 91 93 53,226 90 89 94 
			 Northamptonshire 55,994 89 90 96 60,028 95 89 95 
			 Northumbria 222,835  90 94 229,478 90 91 93 
			 Nottinghamshire 129,831 81 77 88 147,739 91 78 88 
			 South Wales 179,586175,535
			
			 South Yorkshire 153,276 68 50 76 177,278 78 79 87 
			 Staffordshire 74,900 86 80 93 76,400 88 90 95 
			 Suffolk 56,112 88 74 91 60,951 80 64 88 
			 Surrey 74,763 79 83 89 80,201 90 86 91 
			 Sussex 151,652 85 94 97 162,452 84 91 93 
			 Thames Valley 221,119 79 82 93 228,508 76 77 92 
			 Warwickshire 54,921 89 86 98 60,861 82 86 92 
			 West Mercia 99,012 80 83 91 110,688 86 82 93 
			 West Midlands 455,056 74 96 89 462,052 85 89 95 
			 West Yorkshire 348,120 81 74 83 342,199 78 78 84 
			 Wiltshire 56,064 95 84 96 60,762 81 70 89 
		
	
	
		HMIC Matrix of Indicators -- N/A
		
			199798   199899   
			 Forces BVPI 134 No. of 999 calls received BVPI 23a per cent. Public satisfied 999 calls BVPI 23b Victims of violence per cent. satisfied BVPI 23c Victims burgdwell per cent. satisfied BVPI 134 No. of 999 calls received BVPI 23a per cent. Public satisfied 999 calls BVPI 23b Victims of violence per cent. satisfied BVPI 23c Victims burgdwell per cent. satisfied 
		
		
			 England and Wales 7,671,115 87 82 92 7,986,070 86 81 91 
			 Avon and Somerset 198,390 81 75 85 205,350 75 73 87 
			 Bedfordshire 56,870 84 76 90 78,666 88 83 86 
			 Cambridgeshire 82,541 88 71 83 92,353 78 55 79 
			 Cheshire 102,665 88 83 94 111,533 87 90 95 
			 City of London  94 80 86   80 88 
			 Cleveland 86,318 87 88 91 88,834 82 92 94 
			 Cumbria 36,206 90 91 92 41,240 85 85 89 
			 Derbyshire 103,413 89 85 96 109,407 79 80 90 
			 Devon and Cornwall 175,942 86 73 88 169,634 88 75 90 
			 Dorset 73,005 87 88 97 71,680 90 84 97 
			 Durham 51,72950,608 80 75 87 
			 Dyfed-Powys 29,382 93 89 98 32,672 92 81 94 
			 Essex 176,374 82 92 98 186,386  83 92 
			 Gloucestershire 57,833 74 79 89 57,335 95 89 97 
			 Greater Manchester 584,663 90 93 96 555,997 88 88 96 
			 Gwent 57,143  80  64,013 82  89 
			 Hampshire 225,355 86 82 97 231,052 86 74 97 
			 Hertfordshire 107,675 74 79 84 119,380 93 90 95 
			 Humberside 107,118 70 68 81 105,037 74 75 86 
			 Kent 168,849 97 93 98 179,523 98 88 97 
			 Lancashire 177,088 86 83 92 176,784 86 78 91 
			 Leicestershire 127,316 86 76 93 128,015 81 79 94 
			 Lincolnshire 48,247 93 78 89 53,097 95 86 94 
			 Merseyside 246,646 74 79 90 259,166 80 78 91 
			 Metropolitan Police 1,875,381 93 87 93 1,957,930 92 83 91 
			 Norfolk 69,852 92 84 92 75,125 92 83 92 
			 North Wales 71,690 82 89 90 75,046 83 88 91 
			 North Yorkshire 43,42351,979
			 Northamptonshire 69,581 95 89 97 77,543 91 91 91 
			 Northumbria 227,129 83 86 91 231,750 85 86 92 
			 Nottinghamshire 156,239  84 91 161,345 81 76 87 
			 South Wales 196,599210,412 83 83 90 
			 South Yorkshire 180,197 87 83 89 194,592 85 82 89 
			 Staffordshire 87,737 90 91 96 102,663 74 75 86 
			 Suffolk 61,961 84 85 92 75,079 88 87 94 
			 Surrey 82,399 85 82 90 90,001 82 81 91 
			 Sussex 172,250 79 89 90 184,156 78 90 86 
			 Thames Valley 240,002 78 81 93 251,131 80 79 91 
			 Warwickshire 63,503 74 79 89 57,860 74 82 80 
			 West Mercia 111,924 87 81 91 122,238 85 75 94 
			 West Midlands 479,112 93 82 95 486,756 90 91 93 
			 West Yorkshire 353,125 85 75 91 361,322 89 77 94 
			 Wiltshire 48,243 80 72 89 51,380 82 75 93 
		
	
	
		HMIC Matrix of Indicators -- N/A
		
			19992000   200001   
			 Forces BVPI 134 No. of 999 calls received BVPI 23a per cent. Public satisfied 999 calls BVPI 23b Victims of violence per cent. satisfied BVPI 23c Victims burgdwell per cent. satisfied BVPI 134 No. of 999 calls received BVPI 23a per cent. Public satisfied 999 calls BVPI 23b Victims of violence per cent. satisfied BVPI 23c Victims burgdwell per cent. satisfied 
		
		
			 England and Wales 9,307,151 85 79 91 9,597,934 80 77 89 
			 Avon and Somerset 242,832 80 70 86 247,089 74 70 89 
			 Bedfordshire 74,464 83 68 82 96,448 78 67 81 
			 Cambridgeshire 104,306  56 85 108,622 84 69 85 
			 Cheshire 134,361 85 82 96 140,593 83 82 95 
			 City of London   82 75   71 46 
			 Cleveland 99,665 80 89 90 97,969 76 86 91 
			 Cumbria 47,516 89 82 91 48,310 82 82 91 
			 Derbyshire 126,060 77 78 89 133,524 72 68 87 
			 Devon and Cornwall 206,823 88 68 86 224,879 83 65 75 
			 Dorset 79,77292,609 79 71 90 
			 Durham 61,65757,548 75 78 92 
			 Dyfed-Powys 39,689 87 90 90 38,699 89 64 93 
			 Essex 206,635 80  94 243,347 72 79 93 
			 Gloucestershire 67,994 97 86 98 70,939 94 89 96 
			 Greater Manchester 578,719 83 82 94 573,911 85 87 96 
			 Gwent 73,226  72 89 62,867
			 Hampshire 269,027 78 82 95 341,999 77 84 93 
			 Hertfordshire 132,878 86 81 100 164,191 83 82 86 
			 Humberside 117,289 78 72 87 116,450 80 74 79 
			 Kent 209,215 86 88 96 235,208 92 87 95 
			 Lancashire 199,547 75 69 80 179,880 79 78 90 
			 Leicestershire 147,905 81 88 94 153,115 76 85 86 
			 Lincolnshire 66,665 88 87 92  75 67 82 
			 Merseyside 292,549 74 74 85 311,183 65 72 85 
			 Metropolitan Police 2,412,981 91 86 92 2,319,688 79 74 84 
			 Norfolk 82,340 87 80 87 84,179 89 76 86 
			 North Wales 91,610 85 83 93 95,442 86 84 93 
			 North Yorkshire 75,513 82 67 78 72,120 83 53 98 
			 Northamptonshire 84,243 87 88 90 92,769 76 79 88 
			 Northumbria 245,139 90 88 89 256,646 76 82 81 
			 Nottinghamshire 199,583 90 71 88 219,156 75 74 83 
			 South Wales 252,018238,890 81 88 95 
			 South Yorkshire 218,692 83 73 87 225,552 84 81 91 
			 Staffordshire 136,256 70 79 83 144,061 83 76 87 
			 Suffolk 88,740 80 76 89 100,203 73 75 91 
			 Surrey 102,628 79 78 87 134,192 84 71 88 
			 Sussex 201,365 73 73 97 270,692 71 74 88 
			 Thames Valley 285,747 77 79 91 312,420 74 75 91 
			 Warwickshire 67,219 79 87 90 71,820 80 82 95 
			 West Mercia 144,960 79 76 94 145,974 78 76 90 
			 West Midlands 561,684 93 79 93 571,912 90 90 93 
			 West Yorkshire 423,838 84 85 93 437,061 81 75 90 
			 Wiltshire 53,801 82 74 86 65,777 83 65 87

Prison Transfers

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convicted offenders were transferred from prison to high security hospitals in each year since 1992.

Hilary Benn: Figures are available only for the years 1995 to 2000, and are given in the table:
	
		
			  
		
		
			 2000 52 
			 1999 44 
			 1998 48 
			 1997 34 
			 1996 54 
			 1995 47

Prison Visitors

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the National Association of Prison Visitors.

Hilary Benn: I have yet to meet the National Association of Prison Visitors, having been unable to attend their annual general meeting this year. I look forward to meeting them at a suitable point in the future.

Prison Visitors

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison visitors there were in each of the past 10 years; and what plans he has to increase their number.

Hilary Benn: Statistics on the number of official prison visitors are not collated centrally. However, the contribution of such visitors is highly valued and it is an audited requirement for prisons to run prison visiting schemes, where there is demand. Moreover, the Prison Service continues to provide an annual grant to the National Association of Prison Visitors, and is actively assisting that organisation and others to increase and broaden the range of prison visitors.

Prisoners' Mental Health

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of prisoners receive (a) anti-psychotic medication and (b) atypical antipsychotics.

Hilary Benn: This information is not available in precisely the form requested. A survey of mental ill health in the prison population of England and Wales, undertaken in 1997 by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), showed that four per cent. of remanded and two per cent. of sentenced men were taking anti-psychotic medicine. The comparable figures for women were 14 per cent. and eight per cent. respectively.
	The ONS did not collect information about which prisoners were being treated with atypical antipsychotics.

High Security Hospitals

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average number of convicted offenders in high security hospitals was in each year since 1992.

Hilary Benn: Figures in respect of transferred prisoners are available only for the years 1995 to 2000. They are shown in the table:
	
		
			  
		
		
			 2000 235 
			 1999 223 
			 1998 214 
			 1997 219 
			 1996 233 
			 1995 231 
		
	
	Figures for the total number of convicted offenders detained are not available. For restricted patients, who are all convicted offenders, the average figures are:
	
		
			  
		
		
			 2000 1,170 
			 1999 1,193 
			 1998 1,188 
			 1997 1,201 
			 1996 1,221 
			 1995 1,245 
			 1994 1,132 
			 1993 1,187 
			 1992 1,218

Biological Standards Institute

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the (a) staffing structure, (b) works and (c) funding of the Biological Standards Institute in Northern Ireland.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 8 July 2002
	I have been asked to reply.
	The National Institute for Biological Standards and Control is based in England and is an Executive Non-departmental Public Body accountable to Ministers, being the Secretary of State for Health, The Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales and the Department of Health and Social Services, Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State assumes lead responsibility on behalf of the four United Kingdom health departments in dealing with the management issues of National Institute for Biological Standards and Control.
	The functions of the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control are set out in Statutory Instrument 1976 No 917: to devise standards for the purity and potency of biological substances; to test biological substances; to prepare and distribute standards; to collaborate with the World Health Organisation, European Pharmacopoeia Commission and other international organisations; to carry out research.
	Core funding from the Government for 200203 is 9.853 million. The Northern Ireland contribution to the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control in 200102 was 261,000.
	Details of the staffing structure, the work and the funding of National Institute for Biological Standards and Control are in the public domain and can be found on the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control website at www.nibsc.ac.uk or in any of the published annual reports.

Criminal Justice Centres

James Plaskitt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how criminal justice centres will assist in the processing of cases.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 9 July 2002
	Two innovative and integrated Criminal Justice Centres are being developed in Warwickshire. The Centres will speed up justice, give a better service to victims, witnesses and defendants and help in the local efforts to reduce crime and improve public safety by co-locating all of the county's criminal justice agencies.
	Practitioners from the courts, Crown Prosecution Service, police, Probation Service and Youth Offending Teams will be working together with the National Health Service and voluntary organisations to create new partnership arrangements and modernise the existing single agency approaches. The Centres will deliver joined-up justice through improved business processes and Information Technology systems. This innovative approach will improve the quality and timeliness of prosecutions which should speed up the processing of cases.
	Victims and witnesses will receive a better service through the new integrated Centres by receiving help and support at all stages of the justice process, especially while they are at court. Cases will be dealt with faster and more efficiently, so the stress of their involvement should also be reduced.
	The project in Warwickshire is being reviewed as it progresses, so that the lessons learned can be applied quickly. This will allow us to examine the benefits of co-locating of all local criminal justice agencies and whether to extend this approach to other criminal justice system areas.

Criminal Justice Centres

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the re-offending rate of those leaving young offenders institutions was in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 9 July 2002
	Re-offending rates are not normally measured as they rely on the self-reporting of offending by offenders.
	The Home Office does however keep information on reconviction rates. In relation to those leaving Her Majesty's Prison Young Offender Institutions during 1997, before the youth justice reforms took effect, 76 per cent. of male young offenders and 58 per cent. of female young offenders were reconvicted within two years of release from custody during 1997.
	Reconviction rates for those sentenced in July 2000, shortly after the new Detention and Training Order was introduced, are due in early 2003. Meanwhile, for those juveniles receiving non-custodial sentences in July 2000, we achieved a 14.6 per cent. reduction against the predicted reconviction rate was achieved.

Eden Strang

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role his Department has played in the (a) release and (b) post-release arrangements of Eden Strang; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 10 July 2002
	The Home Office played no role in the release arrangements for Mr. Strang. I regret that because of an unfortunate administrative error in the Home Office, authority for his detention as a restricted patient lapsed on 2 August 2000. Accordingly, his discharge was a matter for his hospital care team. Since his discharge, the Home Office has liaised closely with the local Multi Agency Public Protection Panel and established what the arrangements are for his safe care and supervision in the community. We have also learned of the concerns of the victims about his offence.
	I take these concerns extremely seriously. It is not right that victims of such terrible events should have to learn from the media that the offender has been discharged. We have therefore published proposals in the Mental Health Bill to bring the rights of victims of mentally disordered offenders into line with those of the victims of violent or sexual offending in the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000.

Helen Smith

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will order a new inquiry into the death of Helen Smith in Jeddah in May 1979.

Hilary Benn: An inquest was held into Helen Smith's death in 1982. Inquest proceedings can be reviewed by the courts and we are not aware of any grounds for the Government to take further action.

Criminal Injuries Compensation

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason the target of handling 87,000 applications for criminal injuries compensation was not met in 200102.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 11 July 2002
	The figure of 87,000 cases comprised 84,000 tariff scheme cases and 3,000 residual old scheme cases. The total was an early planning figure based on predictions that some 83,000 new applications would be received in that year, a figure that was eventually undershot by nearly 5,000.
	The old scheme cases proved more complicated and difficult to resolve than had been anticipated, and the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority had to devote greater staff effort to them. This, inevitably, affected output on tariff scheme cases.

Sajanji Jivaji Odedra

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Sajanji Jivaji Odedra and his special voucher application which have been referred from the Foreign Office to his Department.

Beverley Hughes: I wrote to my hon. Member on 24 July 2002.

London Probation Service

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vacancies there are in the London Probation Service.

Hilary Benn: The London Probation Area vacancy rate in the context of the new structure is in the region of 130 posts, which covers staff of all grades and contract, out of a total staffing figure of 2,836.
	The intention is to recruit 50 Trainee Probation Officers this year and offer 50 qualifying Trainee Probation Officers a permanent Probation Officer post in October.

Targets (Sentencing)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the targets for reducing the time from arrest to sentence will be settled.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 11 July 2002
	We are working on targets for reducing the time from arrest to sentence for all defendants and an announcement will be made in due course.

Pornography

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to use technology similar to that which the Government are introducing to stop tobacco advertising on the web to stop the advertising of pornographic material on the web.

Hilary Benn: There are no plans to use technology to stop tobacco advertising on the web. The Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Bill before Parliament at the moment will, if passed, make the advertising of tobacco products a criminal offence in most circumstances. The offence could be committed by advertising a tobacco product over the web, just as it could be committed in other circumstances, as the law applies equally online as offline. It is already a criminal offence to advertise pornographic material featuring children.
	As regards material which may be legal but offensive to many people, the Government supports the development of tools, such as the rating and filtering system operated by the Internet Content Rating Association (ICRA), to encourage Internet users to regulate their own Internet experience or that of their children.

Pornography

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take powers to require (a) pornographic sites and (b) emails advertising pornography to be clearly identifiable as to their nature.

Hilary Benn: The Government believes that a range of methods is required to provide parents and other Internet users with a way of exercising choice about what kind of material they and their children have access to.
	Easy to use rating and filtering systems, such as that operated by the Internet Content Rating Association (ICRA), have an important role to play as does greater public awareness of simple measures which can be taken to protect personal information and help avoid unwanted e-mails (SPAM).
	These issues are being considered by a Sub Group of the Task Force on Child Protection on the Internet which was established in March 2001 by my right hon. Friend the then Home Secretary (Mr. Straw). The Task Force is a partnership of: representatives from internet service and communication providers; the Internet Watch Foundation (which provides a hotline for the public to report child pornography); PC and software retailers and manufacturers; child welfare organisations; the main opposition parties; law enforcement agencies and academics. Among other things, the Task Force is looking at good practice models for providers of chat services, instant messaging and web services which will promote the use of clear and accessible safety advice and better signposting of content.
	The problem of SPAM including those containing pornography is also being considered by the Sub-Group.

Child Abuse

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will share information with other countries about UK citizens who have been convicted of offences against children.

Hilary Benn: I have been asked to reply.
	If a person is convicted of a relevant sex offence against a child they become subject to the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Act 1997.
	New provisions in the Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000 (including regulations made under the power contained therein) provide that if an offender subject to the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 leaves the United Kingdom for eight days or longer, he must notify the police at least 24 hours prior to his departure: of his date of departure; the country to which he is travelling; the identity of the carrier he intends to use; his point of arrival in the country; details of his first night's accommodation; if he intends to return to the United Kingdom; and if so, the date of his return and point of arrival.
	On such a notification, the police will assess the level of risk the offender poses and then make a decision over whether to pass on this information to the authorities of the destination country or not.

Prisons

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which prisons are the (a) most expensive and (b) cheapest in terms of cost per prisoner; and what criteria govern the differential allocation of funds to these prisons.

Hilary Benn: Figures published in the Prison Service Annual Report and Accounts for 200102 show that Whitemoor (high security) prison had the highest cost per prisoner at 54,184 and Ford open prison the lowest, at 14,968.
	Cost per prisoner figures shown in the annual report for private sector establishments include an element of capital repayment and the figures are not comparable with the public sector.
	Criteria used to determine the allocation of funds include internal benchmarking of prisons of similar size and category and assessments of the grading of staff necessary to maintain a safe, decent and healthy environment and to deliver regimes effective in reducing crime. Full consideration is given to the security classification of prisons within the estate, costs being higher in high security prisons and lower in the open estate where the risk of escape and danger to the public is reduced.

Category B Prisons

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on the provision of medical facilities within category B prisons; what the medical staffing complement is of each prison; how many fell below that for a substantial period in the last year for which information is available; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 5 July 2002
	All prisons, including those holding category B prisoners, are required to work with their local National Health Service (NHS) partners to identify the health needs of their local prison population and provide appropriate services to meet those needs.
	Information about staffing levels is not held centrally in the form requested. The performance of health care centres is assessed on a quarterly basis, against a range of criteria, including the adequacy of staffing. The Prison Service is working with the NHS to ensure that minimum, safe staffing levels in prison health centres are maintained.

Category B Prisons

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how many prisoner days prisoners in each category B prison were held in segregation pending transfer to a secure mental hospital in the last 12 months.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 5 July 2002
	Information is not collected centrally in the form requested. Prisoners who are awaiting transfer to secure National Health Service (NHS) hospitals are normally located in the prison healthcare centres. Where prisoners have to be placed in segregation, for control or other reasons, Prison Orders require that they be visited by a doctor or registered nurse, as a minimum requirement, at least once every three days, and visited more frequently where health needs dictate.

Category B Prisons

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many disciplinary adjudications and rulings under Rule 45 were made in each category of prison in the last year for which information is available.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 5 July 2002
	The number of disciplinary adjudications in each category of prison in 2000 is given in the table. This includes adjudications which were not proved. Data on the number of rulings under Rule 45 in each category of prison is not available centrally.
	
		
			  
		
		
			 All establishments   120,869  
			 Males
			  All establishments  112,054 
			  Prisons  70,693 
			   Local Prisons 36,520 
			   Open Training Prisons 3,156 
			   Closed Training Prisons 31,017 
			  Young Offender Institutions  41,361 
			   Remand Centres 12,248 
			   Open Young Offender Institution 1,106 
			   Closed Young Offender Institution 15,874 
			   Juvenile Young Offender Institution 12,133 
			 Female
			  All establishments  8,815 
			  Prisons  7,267 
			   Local Prisons 3,528 
			   Open Training Prisons 524 
			   Closed Training Prisons 3,215 
			  Young Offender Institution  1,548 
			   Open Young Offender Institution 109 
			   Closed Young Offender Institution 1,439

Category B Prisons

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many category B prisoners have been released on licence (a) tagged and (b) untagged from each category B prison in the last year for which information is available.

Hilary Benn: The table gives a breakdown, by prison, of all category B prisoners released during the 12 months ending 31 May 2002 (i) on licence and not subject to electronic monitoring as a licence condition (ii) on licence and subject to electronic as a licence condition and (iii) on licence and subject to the Home Detention Curfew scheme.
	
		
			 Prison Total number of category B releases On licence and subject to electronic monitoring as a licence condition On licence and not subject to electronic monitoring as a licence condition On licence and subject to the home detention curfew scheme 
		
		
			  853 8 821 24 
			 Acklington 1  1  
			 Albany 48 1 47  
			 Altcourse 2  2  
			 Bedford 9  8 1 
			 Belmarsh 21  20 1 
			 Birmingham 17  17  
			 Blakenhurst 3  3  
			 Blundeston 4  4  
			 Bristol 45 1 34 10 
			 Brixton 8  7 1 
			 Bullingdon 33  31 2 
			 Camp Hill 2  2  
			 Canterbury 3  3  
			 Cardiff 8  8  
			 Channings Wood 1   1 
			 Chelmsford 8  8  
			 Dartmoor 15  15  
			 Doncaster 23  23  
			 Dorchester 5  5  
			 Dovegate 10  10  
			 Durham 17  16 1 
			 Elmley 11 1 10  
			
			 Erlestoke 1  1  
			 Exeter 9 1 8  
			 Forest Bank 1  1  
			 Frankland 43  43  
			 Full Sutton 33  33  
			 Garth 49  49  
			 Gloucester 4  4  
			 Grendon 6  6  
			 Guys Marsh 1  1  
			 Highdown 17 1 16  
			 Highpoint 1  1  
			 Holme House 23  23  
			 Hull 9  9  
			 Kingston 3  3  
			 Leeds 8  8  
			 Leicester 5  5  
			 Lewes 3  3  
			 Lincoln 6 1 5  
			 Liverpool 7  7  
			 Long Lartin 22  22  
			 Lowden Grange 21  21  
			 Maidstone 9  9  
			 Manchester 23 1 21 1 
			 Mount 2  2  
			 Norwich 4  4  
			 Nottingham 5 1 4  
			 Parc 14  14  
			 Parkhurst 28  27 1 
			 Pentonville 11  10 1 
			 Preston 5  5  
			 Risley 1  1  
			 Rye Hill 6  6  
			 Shepton Mallet 1  1  
			 Stafford 1  1  
			 Swaleside 19  19  
			 Swansea 2  2  
			 Verne 1  1  
			 Wakefield 20  20  
			 Wandsworth 76  75 1 
			 Wayland 1  1  
			 Weare 2  1 1 
			 Whitemoor 16  16  
			 Winchester 13  12 1 
			 Wolds 7  7  
			 Woodhill 2  2  
			 Wormwood Scrubs 16  15 1 
			 Wymott 2  2

Prison Suicides

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison suicides among (a) men and (b) women there were in prisons in England and Wales in the last 12 months.

Hilary Benn: There have been 87 self-inflicted deaths among prisoners in England and Wales during the last 12 months to 8 July 2002. Further information is given in the table.
	
		
			  Female Prisoners Male Prisoners 
		
		
			 Juveniles 0 3 
			 (aged 1517)   
			 Young offenders 1 7 
			
			 (aged 1820)   
			 Adults 5 71 
			 (aged 21 and over)   
			 Total 6 81

Police Sick Leave

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with the Chief Constable of Cheshire on the level of sick leave in the force; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: holding answer 25 February 2002
	Sickness absence rates in Cheshire Constabulary in 200001 were as follows:
	
		
			  
			  Average days sick leave per person 
		
		
			 Police Officers 13.7 
			 Support Staff 15.8 
		
	
	I am informed by the Chief Constable of Cheshire that the force has recently improved sickness absence management procedures and are now seeing an improvement in sickness absence for both police officers and support staff.
	In 1997 Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary published a report Lost Time about sickness absence in police forces. The Home Office has recently published In Sickness and In Health: Reducing sickness absence in the police service', which reported the results of research into this subject. The reports made a number of recommendations to Chief Constables aimed at improving the management of sickness absence.
	The Home Office is currently developing the Strategy for a Healthy Police Service, in consultation with the police service, which will help bring about substantial reductions in police sickness.

WORK AND PENSIONS

State Pension

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the level of the state pension since April 1998, in comparison with increases in (a) average earnings and (b) the retail price index.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 22 July 2002
	Since April 1998, the rate of basic state retirement pension has increased from 64.70 to 75.50, an increase of 17 per cent.
	If we had uprated the basic state retirement pension in the same period:
	(a) by average earnings, the increase would have been 19 per cent.;
	(b) by RPI, the increase would have been 10 per cent.

State Pension

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the value would be of the 25 pence age addition to the retirement pension if it had been increased in each year since its introduction in line with (a) prices and (b) average earnings.

Ian McCartney: The 25p age addition would be worth:
	(a) 2.19 per week had it been up-rated in line with prices; and
	(b) 3.77 per week had it been up-rated in line with earnings,
	since its introduction in 1971.
	These values relate to the value of the age addition for 200203.
	However, it should be noted that since 2000 all pensioners aged over 75 receive free TV licences, currently worth 112 per year and of pensioners aged 80 or over, the poorest single pensioners are 1,000 a year better off, and couples almost 1,400 better off in real terms when compared with the 1997 system. Notes:
	1. The Office of National Statistics' RPI: AI Items Index Table (table RP02) has been used to up-rate in line with prices.
	2. The Office of National Statistics' Average Earnings Index for the Whole Economy has been used to up-rate in line with earnings.

State Pension Credit

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the estimated administration costs are of the state pension credit in each of the next five full financial years; and what percentage this represents in each of the next five full financial years of the total estimated cost of the state pension credit.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 16 July 2002
	The Pension Service will be responsible for delivering Pension Credit along with Retirement Pension and other benefits for pensioners. Ultimately benefits will be delivered in a coordinated way so that administration is delivered as part of a seamless process.
	The costs to The Pension Service of delivering Pension Credit over the period covered by the Spending Review 2002 settlement (200304 to 200506) are estimated at 670 million. 1
	These are the costs of converting 1.8 million MIG cases and bringing on an additional 1 million Pension Credit cases. Steady state running costs will be set in future Spending Reviews.
	Minimum Income Guarantee/Pension Credit programme expenditure will be 17.4 billion over the Spending Review period 200304 to 200506. Notes 2,3,4,5
	Notes:
	1. These include the estimate of staff costs for processing Pension Credit and for supporting functions within The Pension Service. As The Pension Service continues to develop a more integrated approach to benefit services these costs will be subject to change. They exclude one-off implementation costs such as changes to the Department's IT systems and any apportionment of Departmental overheads.
	2. The Minimum Income Guarantee will be replaced by the Pension Credit from October 2003.
	3. Programme expenditure beyond the year 200506 is not available.
	4. Costs are given in nominal terms.
	5. Programme costs relate to Pension Credit only and do not include any additional Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit expenditure resulting from the introduction of Pension Credit.

State Pension Credit

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individual pensioners are represented by his target to pay pension credit to at least three million pensioner households by 2006.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 22 July 2002
	The PSA target, as published in the Spending Review 2002, is for 3 million pensioner households to be in receipt of Pension Credit by 2006. It is not possible to estimate with confidence the number of individual pensioners who will receive Pension Credit by 2006.

Occupational Pensions

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of occupational pensions that are in independent trusteeship.

Ian McCartney: The information is not collected. Independent trustees can be appointed to pension schemes for a wide variety of reasons to on-going schemes and those where a sponsoring employer has become insolvent.
	On 1 April 2002, we introduced regulations to help speed up the process of winding-up pension schemes and to increase the accountability of those involved in running schemes. Specifically, the measures include a requirement for; trustees to report to Opra within one month of their becoming aware that the scheme does not have an independent trustee; and the Insolvency Practitioner or Official Receiver to appoint an independent trustee within 3 months of becoming aware of the need for one.

Pension Payment

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2002, Official Report, column 1009W, on pension payment, (a) how many letters were sent out to people within four months of retirement age and (b) how many claim packages were filled out and returned as a result in each year since 1997.

Ian McCartney: The information requested concerning the number of letters sent out to people within four months of pension age is detailed in the table. No statistics are kept of the number of claim forms that are filled out and returned as a result of the letters that are sent out four months in advance of pension age- claim forms can also be obtained via the Pension Service Website or from any of our Local Offices. Details of the number of claims to Retirement Pension that have been received in the relevant period(s) have been included in the table.
	
		
			  
		
		
			 Period No of letters No of claims Received 
			 01.04.97 to 31.03.98 571,970 602,696 
			 01.04.98 to 31.03.99 568,264 628,804 
			 01.04.99 to 31.03.00 563,395 621,967 
			 01.04.00 to 31.03.01 581,416 506,298 
			 01.04.01 to 31.03.02 655,308 556,626

Consultation

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to what extent he has conformed to Criterion 6 of Cabinet Office guidelines on written consultations in relation to his consultation on the pension statement; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: We aim to follow Cabinet Office guidance on all written consultation where appropriate.

Consultation

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what public consultations have been commenced by his Department since 1 April; and what the (a) closing date and (b) website address of each were.

Ian McCartney: The titles, start and end dates of public consultations commenced by Department for Work and Pensions since 1 April 2002 are listed in the table. They can all be found on www.dwp.gov.uk/consultations/2002/index.htm
	
		
			  
		
		
			 Title of consultation Start Date End Date 
			 Revised code of practice on for gathering of information as required in Social Security Fraud Act 2001 8 April 2002 20 April 2002 
			 Consultation on Three Recommendations in the Myners' reportInstitutional Investment in the UKa review 4 February 2002 3 May 2002 
			 Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority (OPRA) quinquennial review 10 May 2002 2 August 2002 
			 Measuring Child Poverty 18 April 2002 10 July 2002 
			 The future of the residential allowance component of Income Support, Minimum Income Guarantee, Jobseeker's Allowance 22 May 2002 31 August 2002 
			 Equality, Opportunity, and Independence for all (Race Relations Amendment Act) 30 May 2002 30 September 2002

Retirement Benefits

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps are taken by his Department to advise those contemplating moving abroad for retirement or extended absence of the implications of the entitlement to retirement benefits.

Ian McCartney: Individuals who are considering moving abroad are responsible for considering the financial impact of such a move. They can seek information and advice on the implications on entitlement to retirement benefits in a number of DWP publications.
	Leaflet NP46 Retirement Pensions (which is widely available in Social Security Offices and Post Offices) advises pensioners of the effect of going abroad on their retirement pension.
	Besides giving general information, it also advises people who are thinking of moving abroad to get leaflet GL29 Going abroad and social security benefits from their Social Security Office. In addition, the Department's International Pensions Centre provides oral and written advice to people who intend to move abroad.
	Information is also available on the DWP websitewww.dwp.gov.uk/lifeevent

Retirement Benefits

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total cost to his Department would have been in each of the last five years of unfreezing state pension for those retired abroad in countries without a full reciprocal social security agreement.

Ian McCartney: Due to data limitations, we are unable to provide meaningful estimates prior to 1999. However, such information as we can provide is set out in the table below
	
		
			  
		
		
			 Year Additional cost of paying pensions at an unfrozen rate ( million) 
			 200001 280 
			 200102 330 
			 200203 370 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Costs are shown in cash terms, i.e. not adjusted for inflation.
	2. Costs include all components of State Pensions.
	3. Costs are rounded to the nearest 10 million.
	4. To fully restore the state pension to what it would have been had it not been frozen will cost around 3 billion

Pension Service

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, 
	(1)  pursuant to the oral statement of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Official Report, column 173W, on the Pension Service, whether the decision to carry out a home visit to a pensioner will be made by the pensioner;
	(2)  in what circumstances a pensioner requesting a home visit through the Pension Service would be denied one.

Ian McCartney: By bringing together pension-related services customers of The Pension Service will be given a dedicated service in a way that is convenient for them.
	Many pensioners already deal with us over the phoneover two-thirds of Retirement Pension claims are made via the Pensions Direct telephone serviceand this will increasingly be the case. So we are developing 26 modern centres using the most up-to-date equipment to deal with queries accurately and efficiently.
	These centres will be backed up by local services delivered in partnership with organisations very used to dealing with pensioners' needs, provided in locations accessible to pensioners. The local service will employ twice as many people undertaking similar activity in the old Benefits Agency.
	Where a pensioner requires a home visit we expect to be able to provide one. Pensioners will have that optionbut in reality the vast majority of queries will be dealt with swiftly and effectively without the need for a home visit. Indeed a simple call to a Pension Centre is likely to be the most effective and satisfactory way of dealing with customers' inquiries without the delay of appointments.
	This is a period of change but it is change to create a better service. As the Pension Service is rolled out in each area existing pensioners will receive letters explaining those changes fully and giving them all necessary contact details.
	Pensioners deserve a decent modern service tailored to their needs; The Pension Service will deliver it.

Pickering Report

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the cost to the Treasury of the proposals in the Pickering report to end (a) the compulsory indexation of occupational pensions and (b) the compulsory provision of survivor spouses benefits.

Ian McCartney: We are currently carrying out analysis of the proposals in the Pickering report and we will respond to them in our autumn Green Paper.

Pensions Advice

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to ensure that trained staff are always available in Jobcentre Plus offices to deliver pensions advice in areas where there is no local pension service in place; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what opportunities there will be for pensioners to receive face-to-face advice on their particular case under the new Pensions Service and Jobcentre Plus schemes for (a) exceptional and (b) day-to-day cases.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 23 July 2002
	The Department for Work and Pensions is currently creating an entirely new service focused on the needs of today's and tomorrow's pensioners.
	By bringing together pension-related services customers of The Pension Service will be given a dedicated service in a way that is convenient for them.
	Many pensioners already deal with us over the phoneover two-thirds of Retirement Pension claims are made via the Pensions Direct telephone serviceand this will increasingly be the case. So we are developing 26 modern centres using the most up-to-date equipment to deal with queries accurately and efficiently.
	These centres will be backed up by local services delivered in partnership with organisations very used to dealing with pensioners' needs, provided in locations accessible to pensioners. The local service will employ twice as many people undertaking similar activity in the old Benefits Agency.
	The Pension Service is committed to providing the best for our customers and training holds the key to that. We will provide technical training to ensure that staff can do their job well and enhance their competencies in areas such as customer service. They will focus entirely on the needs of pensioners, ensuring an expert service which we believe our customers will want to use.
	We do recognise that there will be occasions when customers with a pension query might visit a Jobcentre Plus office in their community, particularly whilst the new arrangements are being introduced. Jobcentre Plus staff will deal with pensioners visiting such offices courteously and efficiently. They will ensure that the customers are given appropriate contact details for the Pension Service where there will be trained staff who will be able to deal effectively with their query.
	In the meantime, our customers can continue to access our services via the existing social security network until the new local arrangements apply.
	This is a period of change but it is change to create a better service. As the new Pension Service is rolled out in each area existing pensioners will receive letters explaining those changes fully and giving them all necessary contact details.
	Pensioners deserve a decent modern service tailored to their needs; The Pension Service will deliver it.

Pension Service Staff

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when Pension Service staff (a) based in local pension surgeries and (b) carrying out home visits will be able to access central Pension Service IT records; and what arrangements for accessing pensioner records and adding new details will be in place until then.

Ian McCartney: It is planned that local service staff will be able to view a customer's details and record a narrative of ongoing action while on a home visit or conducting a surgery. We will bring in this functionality as soon as possible, but it will not be available for some time.
	In the meantime local service staff will preview their cases at their base office where they will have access to the appropriate customer records.
	They will not be able to input or amend any details of a customer's claim. The design intention has always been that all completed claim forms, information and verification details will be forwarded to the appropriate pension centre, which as owner of the claim, will be responsible for inputting information and amending existing records.

State Second Pension

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer of 24 June 2002, Official Report, column 677W, how much he expects to spend promoting the state second pension during the current financial year.

Ian McCartney: For details of the costs of this activity for the last financial year I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave today to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Vincent Cable).
	An estimate of the final spend of the State Second Pension publicity activity for the financial year 200203 is not currently available as final decisions on the campaign have yet to be made.

Jobcentre Plus/Pension Service

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff will be employed in (a) Jobcentre Plus and (b) the Pension Service whose primary responsibility is face-to-face contact with the public (i) this year and (ii) in each future year for which projections have been made.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 22 July 2002
	Staffing in Jobcentre Plus is not broken down by this categorisation. On current assumptions, the local service for The Pension Service that we are starting to establish from October 2002 will require around 2,400 staff, once full national rollout is achieved.

Child Support

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the latest anticipated date is by which the computer system to support delivery of the new child support scheme will be completed and fully tested; and what the latest anticipated dates are for (a) new clients and (b) existing clients to be assessed under the new scheme;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the reasons for the delay in introducing the new child support scheme.

Malcolm Wicks: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the former Secretary of State (Mr. Darling) 20 March 2002, Official Report, columns 315324.
	Testing of the new IT system continues, but no firm date for completion of those tests has yet been agreed. Accordingly, no date for the commencement of the new scheme, either for new or existing clients has been set.

Child Support

Iain Luke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the arrangements for the new child support scheme will come into effect.

Malcolm Wicks: The then Secretary of State's Statement to the House on 20 March 2002 made clear that this Government is not willing to take the risk of introducing the new child support scheme until we are confident that it will work properly.
	Testing of the new IT system continues, but no firm date for completion of those tests has yet been agreed. Accordingly, no date for the commencement of the new scheme has been set.

Child Support Agency

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will investigate the level of accuracy of Child Support Agency assessments.

Malcolm Wicks: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Roy dated 23 July 2002
	The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in replying to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply by me.
	You ask if the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions will investigate the level of accuracy of Child Support Agency assessments.
	The Agency makes great efforts to ensure the accuracy of child maintenance assessments. These include;
	requesting verification of all income declared by clients before the maintenance is calculated;
	training and coaching at all stages of a maintenance application through workshops and weekly meetings to establish common understanding and best practices;
	establishing checking teams to assess the accuracy of work being processed;
	checking the cash value accuracy of a percentage of assessments by a centrally based team, the Monitoring and Guidance Unit.
	All this has contributed to the achievement in the last year of accuracy, to the nearest penny, on the last action taken on a case of 82.5 per cent. against a target of 78 per cent.

Child Support Agency

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost has been to his Department of the child support reforms new rules implementation computer system; what delivery date was specified in the contract for this system; what (a) financial penalties to the contractor and (b) costs to his Department accrue as a consequence of the late delivery of this computer system; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 19 July 2002
	The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Oaten dated 23 July 2002
	The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in replying to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply by me.
	You ask what the cost has been to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Department of the Child Support Reforms New Rules Implementation computer system; what delivery date was specified in the contract for this system; what (a) financial penalties to the contractor and (b) costs to his Department accrue as a consequence of the late delivery of this computer system; and if he will make a statement.
	I am sorry that I cannot provide the costs of the new IT for the Child Support Agency as it is commercially confidential. I can say that the planned total cost of the project to implement Child Support Reform over the 10 year period of the business case was 651 million.
	The planned delivery date for the new system that was specified in the contract was in line with the timetable for the implementation of the Child Support Reforms in April this year.
	With regard to the financial penalties to the contractor, we will take stock of the position when testing is complete and we are able to recommend to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions a revised commencement date for the next phase of Child Support Reforms.
	The cost of the delay to the implementation of the new child support scheme is highly dependent on the completion of testing to the new computer system. Until that testing is complete and a date for the new scheme announced, the total cost cannot be accurately stated.

Child Support Agency

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  in how many cases a reduced benefit was given under section 46(5) of the Child Support Act 1991 in each year from 199394 to 200102;
	(2)  in how many cases the Secretary of State decided that a parent with care withdrew an application for maintenance after claiming good cause for not co-operating with the Child Support Agency in each year from 199394 to 200102;
	(3)  in how many cases the Secretary of State considered whether a parent with care was required to co-operate with the Child Support Agency in each year from 199394 to 200102;
	(4)  in how many cases the Secretary of State decided a parent with care (a) had and (b) had not good cause for not co-operating with the Child Support Agency in each year from 199394 to 200102;
	(5)  how many maintenance application forms were (a) issued and (b) received by the Child Support Agency in each year from 199394 to 200102.

Malcolm Wicks: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Ms Baird, dated 24 July 2002
	The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in replying to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply by me.
	You have asked five questions:
	1. In how many cases a reduced benefit was given under section 46 of the Child Support Act 1991 in each year from 199394 to 200102;
	We do not hold this information for years prior to 1997. For subsequent years the information you require is:
	Year to 31st March:
	1998 74,280
	1999 49,688
	2000 26,352
	2001 13,422
	2002 8,169
	Following the introduction in April 1998 of face-to-face interviews with parents with care claiming benefits, there has been a sharp rise in compliance and a corresponding fall in the number of reduced benefit directions issued. These interviews provide the opportunity to explain to parents with care the advantages of co-operating with the Agency as well as the good cause rules.
	2. How many maintenance application forms were (a) issued and (b) received by the Child Support Agency in each year from 199394 to 200102.
	We do not hold this information for years prior to 1997 and do not record the number of application forms issued. The following information represents the number of application forms received by the Agency in each year:
	Year to 31st March:
	1998 436,376
	1999 400,747
	2000 369,226
	2001 303,797
	2002 365,414
	3. In how many cases the Secretary of State decided a parent with care (a) had and (b) had not good cause for not co-operating with the Child Support Agency in each year from 199394 to 200102;
	We do not hold the information for years prior to 1997. For subsequent years the information you require is:
	
		
			  
		
		
			 Year to 31st March: Had good cause Did not have good cause 
			 1998 30,952 108,193 
			 1999 28,591 75,808 
			 2000 25,234 38,049 
			 2001 32,465 19,209 
			 2002 17,511 11,271 
		
	
	4. In how many cases the Secretary of State considered whether a parent with care was required to co-operate with the Child Support Agency in each year from 199394 to 200102;
	The number of cases considered is the total of the figures given in my previous answer:
	Year to 31st March:
	1998 139,145
	1999 104,399
	2000 63,283
	2001 51,674
	2002 28,782
	5. In how many cases the Secretary of State decided that a parent with care withdrew an application for maintenance after claiming 'good cause' for not co-operating with the Child Support Agency in each year from 199394 to 200102;
	I regret that this information is not available.
	I am sorry not to be provide all the information requested but hope that what is available is helpful to you.

Lone Parents

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions of the lone parents subject to sanctions for non-attendance at compulsory personal adviser meetings, what was the average value of the sanction in terms of lost benefit; how long, on average, the sanctions were applied for; what was the longest period of sanction; how many lone parents subject to suspension had their sanctions reversed and under what circumstances; what analysis has been undertaken of the reasons for non-attendance at interview; and what evaluation has been undertaken on the effectiveness and impact of sanctions.

Nick Brown: We are giving lone parents more choices and more help than ever before to move off welfare and into work, in return for greater responsibility to consider the help that is on offer. On 30 April 2001 we introduced compulsory Personal Adviser (PA) meetings for lone parents across the country to ensure that they are aware of the help available. In cases where a lone parent is unable to attend a PA meeting, or the lone parent's circumstances mean that the meeting would not be appropriate, then the requirement to take part in the PA meeting can be deferred to a later date or waived completely.
	When PA meetings were introduced they were compulsory for all lone parents making a new or repeat claim for Income Support whose youngest child was of school age. From April 2002 these meetings have been extended to all lone parents making new or repeat claims with a youngest child aged three years or over. In addition, since October 2001, any lone parent making a new or repeat claim for benefit at one of our integrated Jobcentre Plus offices is required to take part in a Work Focused Interview, regardless of the age of their youngest child.
	Attendance at a PA meeting at the new/repeat claim stage is a condition of entitlement to benefit. If a lone parent chooses not to attend the meeting they will not receive any benefit. For the majority of lone parents who do attend, review meetings are held six months into their claim and then annually while they are still in receipt of Income Support.
	At the same time as PA meetings were being introduced for new/repeat claims they also began to be rolled out to lone parents already in receipt of Income Support. During 200102 annual PA meetings became compulsory for lone parents in receipt of Income Support with a youngest child aged between 13 and 15 years old. From April 2002, the annual PA meetings were extended to include lone parents with a youngest child over the age of 9.
	These lone parents are given up to three pre-notified appointments and if they fail, without good cause, to take part in the PA meeting they are subject to a benefit sanction. This sanction is equivalent to 20 per cent. of the Income Support personal allowance for a single person aged 25 or over (currently 10.74 per week). This sanction remains in force until the lone parent takes part in a PA meeting.
	The number of lone parents having their benefit not awarded or sanctioned following non attendance at a PA meeting is in the table:
	
		Lone Parent Personal Adviser Meetings (To June 2002)
		
			  No. entering PA meeting Process No. of Adverse decisions made No. of decisions overturned 
		
		
			 New/repeat claim 131,746 875 11 
			 Existing claim 83,653 1,665 81 
			 At review N/A 191 4 
		
	
	Adverse decisions can be overturned if the lone parent demonstrates that they had good cause for not attending the meeting. Information on the individual circumstances of the lone parents is not collected centrally.
	As the sanctions can be indefinite we are not currently able to give estimates for the average length of these sanctions or the total value of the sanction in terms of lost benefit. Qualitative and case study research into the reasons for non-attendance at PA meetings is planned to start later this year. We plan to publish the findings of the research in spring 2003.

Automated Credit Transfer

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he last met (a) the National Federation of Sub-postmasters and (b) Postwatch to discuss plans for the move to automated credit transfer from April 2003.

Malcolm Wicks: Department of Trade and Industry ministers and officials meet the NFSP. Department for Work and Pensions officials also meet the NFSP and Postwatch.

Automated Credit Transfer

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to ensure that recipients of benefits who do not choose to have benefits paid by automated credit transfer will retain the option of payment by order book.

Ian McCartney: Paying benefits and pensions directly into accounts provides a safe, convenient, more modern and efficient way of making payments. The number of customers paid by this way increased by 800,000 in 2001.
	We will start to move customers to payments into their accounts in 2003. In doing so, we will gradually phase out order books and girocheques.
	The introduction of universal banking services means that there should only be a very small number of people who cannot genuinely obtain a suitable account, including accounts which can be used at post offices.

Automated Credit Transfer

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which advertising agency has won the contract to publicise automated credit transfer; and how much the contract is worth.

Malcolm Wicks: We have appointed Miles Calcraft Brigginshaw Duffy to work on development of the information campaign which will aim to give customers the factual information they need about the choices they have as we reform the way we pay benefits and pensions.
	The advertising agency has been procured via the COI Communications framework contract. The advertising agency will receive commission based on the amount of work undertaken. As the campaign is currently being planned it is not possible to say how much the contract will be worth to the advertising agency.

Automated Credit Transfer

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which banks can receive benefit payments on behalf of their customers through automated credit transfer.

Malcolm Wicks: All the UK banks and building societies offer accounts which can receive payments through automated credit transfer.

Benefit Payment Methods

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what contingency plans are in place for April 2003 should the Universal Bank not be established on time.

Malcolm Wicks: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) on 5 July 2002, Official Report, column 630W.

Benefit Payment Methods

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of people receive their (a) state pension, (b) incapacity benefit, (c) disability living allowance and (d) invalid care allowance via automated credit transfer and encashment of girocheques broken down by constituency.

Malcolm Wicks: Statistical information relating to the proportion of people that receive their benefit direct into their bank/building society, by girocheque and other methods of payment, broken down by constituency, has been placed in the library.

Benefit Payment Methods

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the generic features of each type of account into which benefits will be paid from 2003 onwards.

Malcolm Wicks: Benefits may be paid into a wide range of accounts, including standard current accounts, building society accounts, basic bank accounts and, from 2003, the card account at the Post Office. The Financial Services Authority publish a leaflet (No bank account? Why it could pay you to have one) setting out the generic features of the different types of bank account. The most important differences between the different types of account are:
	Current accounts normally offer a cheque book and overdraft facilities;
	Basic bank accounts and, from 2003, the card account at the Post Office are operated using a plastic card and a PIN number and do not provide overdraft facilities;
	Basic and current accounts offer facilities to pay for goods and services in shops, to pay bills by Direct Debit and Standing Order, to accept payment in of wages and other credits, and to obtain cash in a variety of ways, including from cash machines and Cashback in some shops;
	Some current accounts already provide for payments in and cash withdrawals at post offices; from 2003 all the major banks will make their basic accounts accessible at post offices;
	The card account at the Post Office, available from 2003, will only accept payment in of benefits and tax credits, and will only permit cash withdrawals at post offices.
	The Department is currently planning an information campaign to give customers the factual information they need to make an informed choice about which type of account to use when we start to pay benefits and pensions into accounts from 2003.

Benefit Payment Methods

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many recipients of benefits in (a) Roxburgh and Berwickshire and (b) Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale there are, broken down by the method of payment.

Malcolm Wicks: The information has been placed in the Library.

Benefit Take-up (Scotland)

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals in (a) Banff and Buchan and (b) Scotland were entitled to but did not claim (i) guardian's allowance, (ii) income support, (iii) disability living allowance, (iv) attendance allowance, (v) disablement benefit, (vi) reduced earnings allowance, (vii) retirement allowance, (viii) widow's pension, (ix) bereavement payment, (x) graduated retirement allowance, (xi) severe disablement allowance, (xii) invalid care allowance, (xiii) child benefit, (xiv) incapacity benefit, (xv) maternity allowance, (xvi) widow's payment and (xvii) widowed mother's payment in each year since 1997.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is not available.

Benefit Take-up (Scotland)

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many individuals in Scotland were in receipt of (a) guardian's allowance, (b) income support, (c) child benefit, (d) working families tax credit, (e) disabled person's tax credit, (f) incapacity benefit, (g) maternity allowance, (h) widow's payment, (i) widowed mother's allowance, (j) widow's pensions, (k) bereavement payment, (l) graduated retirement allowance, (m) severe disablement allowance, (n) invalid care allowance, (o) disability living allowance, (p) attendance allowance, (q) disablement benefit, (r) reduced earnings allowance and (s) retirement allowance in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many individuals in Banff and Buchan were in receipt of (a) child benefit, (b) incapacity benefit, (c) maternity allowance, (d) widow's payment, (e) widowed mother's allowance, (f) widow's pension, (g) bereavement payment, (h) retirement allowance, (i) guardian's allowance, (j) income support, (k) graduated retirement allowance, (l) severe disablement allowance, (m) invalid care allowance, (n) disability living allowance, (o) attendance allowance, (p) disablement benefit and (q) reduced earning's allowance in each year since 1997.

Malcolm Wicks: The available information has been placed in the Library. Tax credits are the responsibility of the Inland Revenue.

Benefit Take-up (Scotland)

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many individuals in Angus were entitled to but did not claim (a) child benefit, (b) incapacity benefit, (c) maternity allowance, (d) widow's payment, (e) widowed mother's allowance, (f) widow's pension, (g) disablement benefit, (h) reduced earning's allowance, (i) retirement allowance, (j) guardian's allowance, (k) income support, (l) child benefit, (m) bereavement benefit, (n) graduated retirement allowance, (o) severe disablement allowance, (p) invalid care allowance, (q) disability living allowance and (r) attendance allowance in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many individuals in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) the UK were entitled to but did not claim (i) incapacity benefit, (ii) maternity allowance, (iii) widow's payment, (iv) widowed mother's allowance, (v) widow's pension, (vi) attendance allowance, (vii) disablement benefit, (viii) reduced earnings allowance, (ix) retirement allowance, (x) guardian's allowance, (xi) income support, (xii) bereavement payment, (xiii) graduated retirement allowance, (xiv) severe disablement allowance, (xv) invalid care allowance and (xvi) disability living allowance in each year since 1997.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested for the Angus constituency is not available.
	Estimates of the number of families entitled to income related benefits but not claiming them in Great Britain are published in Income Related BenefitsEstimates of Take-Up. Copies of this annual publication are in the Library.
	Information on the other benefits listed is not available.

Benefit Take-up (Scotland)

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many individuals in the constituency of North Tayside were entitled to but did not claim (a) child benefit, (b) incapacity benefit, (c) maternity allowance, (d) widow's payment, (e) widowed mother's allowance and (f) widow's pension in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many individuals in North Tayside were entitled to but did not claim (a) bereavement payment, (b) graduated retirement allowance, (c) severe disablement allowance, (d) invalid care allowance, (e) disability living allowance, (f) attendance allowance, (g) disablement benefit, (h) reduced earnings allowance, (i) retirement allowance, (j) guardian's allowance and (k) income support in each year since 1997.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is not available.

Benefit Take-up (Scotland)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals in the constituency of Moray were entitled to but did not claim (a) child benefit, (b) incapacity benefit, (c) maternity allowance, (d) widow's payment, (e) widowed mother's allowance, (f) widow's pension, (g) bereavement allowance, (h) graduated retirement allowance, (i) severe disablement allowance, (j) invalid care allowance, (k) disability living allowance, (l) attendance allowance, (m) disablement benefit, (n) reduced earnings allowance, (o) retirement allowance, (p) guardian's allowance and (q) income support in each year since 1997.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is not available.

Benefit Take-up (Scotland)

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals in Perth were entitled to but did not claim (a) guardian's allowance, (b) income support, (c) child benefit, (d) incapacity benefit, (e) maternity allowance, (f) widow's payment, (g) widowed mother's allowance, (h) widow's pension, (i) bereavement payment, (j) graduated retirement allowance, (k) severe disablement allowance, (l) invalid care allowance, (m) disability living allowance, (n) attendance allowance, (o) disablement benefit, (p) reduced earnings allowance and (q) retirement allowance in each year since 1997.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is not available.

Benefit Linking Rules

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will take steps to ensure that the rules for those receiving benefits and undertaking voluntary work do not prevent them receiving their benefits; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will list the recent changes to the benefit linking rules; and how many people have taken advantage of these in (a) Glasgow, Pollok, (b) the City of Glasgow, (c) Scotland and (d) the United Kingdom.

Malcolm Wicks: We encourage jobseekers to participate in voluntary work and recognise that it can play an important role in preparing people for paid employment. People of working age in receipt of benefit can now do unlimited voluntary work as long as the usual entitlement conditions are met, and we have recently extended the disregard of reimbursed expenses for people in receipt of income-related benefits to help those wishing to take up voluntary work. To encourage more unemployed people to participate in voluntary work, the Department's leaflets have been, or are in the process of being, revised to ensure that they contain positive messages on volunteering.
	We are also removing other obstacles to work within the benefit system. For example, we have extended the Incapacity Benefit linking rules to 52 weeks, or 2 years for people receiving Disabled Person's Tax Credit, allowing disabled people to try out work safe in the knowledge that they can return to the same rate of benefit if the job doesn't work out. We estimate that 10,700 1 people in Great Britain have benefited from this change since October 1998 and, of those, 1,600 1 were in Scotland and around one hundred 1 in the City of Glasgow. No reliable data are available by parliamentary constituency.
	In addition, linking rules for people receiving income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or Income Support were changed from 9 April 2001 to allow them to re-qualify for help with mortgage interest straight away if they reclaim benefit within 52 weeks of starting full-time employment. In Great Britain, we estimate that around one hundred people 2 in receipt of income-based Jobseeker's Allowance have benefited from this change. No reliable data are available by country, local authority area or parliamentary constituency. Data for those in receipt of Income Support benefiting from this measure are not held centrally.
	1. Figures are drawn from 5 per cent. samples of the Incapacity Benefit computer system and are subject to a degree of sampling error. They exclude a small number of clerically held cases. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. Figure is drawn from Jobseeker's Allowance Quarterly Statistical Enquiries May 2001 to February 2002, and is subject to a high degree of sampling variation. It should therefore be treated as a guide to the number benefiting only. The figure has been rounded to the nearest hundred.

Benefit Fraud

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action is being taken to examine the records in the National Insurance record system to check whether they might relate to bogus identities; and how many records have been checked and over what time period.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 15 July 2002
	The Department has access to the National Insurance recording system. However, it is owned and controlled by the Inland Revenue. The Department and the Inland Revenue already work closely and jointly address issues relating to National Insurance Numbers (NINOs) and identity fraud, through a number of working groups and inter-departmental bodies. Data matching already takes place between the Department and Inland Revenue.
	Where the Inland Revenue's operational activity on individual cases suggests that there may be a problem with identity, these cases are sent to this Department's National Identity Fraud Unit for further action. Separate records are not kept of how many cases are referred in this way, or over what period.

Benefit Fraud

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer of 20 May 2002, Official Report, column 18, on benefit fraud, how many national insurance number applications have been (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful in each year since 1992.

Malcolm Wicks: An Enhanced NINO Process (ENP) for the allocation of NINOs was implemented nationally from April 2001. This has led to the tightening of all aspects of the processing of adult NINO applications.
	Figures are not available for previous years but by the end of March 2002, 394, 044 applications had been received through the ENP of which 12,534 were refused and 2,141 were withdrawn.

Benefit Fraud

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many records on the National Insurance record system, relating to bogus identities, were notified to via his Department's National Identity Fraud Unit in (a) 19992000, (b) 200001 and (c) 200102.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 15 July 2002
	The Department has access to the National Insurance recording system under an agreement with the Inland Revenue. The Departmental Central Index (DCI) interfaces with the National Insurance recording system, enabling information relating to personal details, such as names, addresses and dates of birth, to be shared. The two systems broadcast details to each other when either system is amended or updated.
	The National Identity Fraud Unit mark on the DCI all accounts where it can be proven that the application for a National Insurance Number was made using false documentation as proof of identity.
	It is not possible to provide a breakdown of figures for specific years, or to say how many referrals were from the National Insurance recording system. This is because the information is recorded by reason for the marking, rather than the source of referral. However, the following figures include cases referred from the National Insurance recording system. To date 1,042 accounts have been marked on the DCI as false identities, protecting these accounts from possible future abuse. 16,435 cases have been marked as immigration offenders and currently 6,917 suspect files are being monitored for any activity.
	When an identity is taken over with or without the co-operation of the individual the National Identity Fraud Unit examine and forward to the relevant sections such cases for account rectification or further investigation. They also monitor these accounts for future suspect activity. 3,000 such cases are currently being monitored.

Benefit Fraud

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what was the (a) total annual value of fraudulent benefit claims estimated on the basis of benefit reviews and (b) estimated total value of fraudulent claims by people adopting a false identify in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Malcolm Wicks: We set out our strategy for tackling fraud and error in March 1999. At that time we estimated that around 2 billion is lost annually through benefit fraud in Great Britain. This is a broad order estimate, derived from estimates from the continuously measured benefits (Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance), from National Benefit Reviews and from estimated levels of loss in the unmeasured benefits.
	The latest estimate of the total annual value of fraud and error from the continuous benefit reviews is in The Results of the Area Benefit Review and the Quality Support Team from April 2000 to March 2001: Fraud and Error in Claims for Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance, a copy of which is in the Library.
	The latest estimate of the annual total value of fraudulent claims by people adopting a false identity is in the Cabinet Office's ID Fraud Study, published in July 2002. A copy is in the Library.

Benefit Fraud

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the level of (a) fraud, (b) suspected fraud and (c) error in (i) housing benefit and (ii) council tax benefit in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Information is not available on the level of fraud and error in Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit in each of the last 10 years.
	The Housing Benefit Review (Main-stage report) from 1995 and the National Benefit Review 199798 provided very broad snapshot estimates of fraud and error in Housing Benefit. Copies of these reports are available in the Library. The size and nature of the samples in the estimates and differences in the methodology employed in the two reviews mean that it is not possible to compare their results with an acceptable level of statistical certainty.
	We have now made a commitment to deliver a continuous, comprehensive measurement of programme loss for Housing Benefit. The Housing Benefit review, which is underway, will enable us to establish a baseline level of fraud and error.
	We have recently announced a new target to aim for a 25 per cent. reduction in fraud and error in Housing Benefit by 2006.

Benefit Fraud

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many benefit fraud prosecutions there were in each of the last five years; and what proportion were successful.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 22 July 2002
	In each year since 1997, over 98 per cent. of prosecutions carried out by the Department and its agencies have resulted in convictions. Information on the number of prosecutions is in the table.
	The prosecutions shown in the table of local authority investigations were successful prosecutions for housing benefit fraud. Local authorities are not required to inform the Department of prosecutions which are subsequently abandoned or result in an acquittal.
	
		Fraud Investigations
		
			  Prosecutions Cautions and administrative penalties as an alternative to prosecution 
			 Year DWP Local Authorities DWP Local Authorities Total 
		
		
			 199798 11,700 700   12,400 
			 199899 10,238 800 2,835  13,873 
			 19992000 9,124 860 11,029 390 21,403 
			 200001 11,403 1,100 15,555 550 28,608 
			 200102 11,183 1,700 13,551 2,600 29,034 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Administrative penalties, as an alternative to prosecution, were introduced by the Social Security Administration (Fraud) Act (1997) with effect from December 1998. Cautions were made available to local authorities as a sanction from the start of 200102.
	2. Figures for financial years 199798 to 200001 are taken from local authority management information returns. It is possible that there could be some double counting with DWP data if there were cases which involved a joint prosecution.
	3. Management information data for financial years 199798 to 200001 is not available for all local authorities. The total for Great Britain includes estimates for local authorities that have not responded. These estimates are based on historical and regional data. This type of estimate is standard practice in reporting totals where there have been non-respondents. The figures for financial years 199798 to 200001 have been rounded to two significant figures.
	4. Information for 200102 is from a count of prosecutions and sanctions completed by all local authorities; this data is collected from local authority subsidy returns. Subsidy data may differ from management information data (shown for financial years 199798 to 200001) at local authority level; however, analysis shows a high level of consistency between the two data sources at national level.
	We had a firm target to reduce the level of fraud and error in Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance by 10 per cent. by March 2002. By March 2001 we had already achieved an 18 per cent. reduction. We have now announced an increase in our target for March 2004, from 25 per cent. to 33 per cent., and we maintain our longer-term commitment to a 50 per cent. reduction by March 2006.
	To achieve this, we are preventing fraud happening as well as detecting and punishing fraud when it does occur.

Benefit Appeals (Scotland)

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in which locations within Scotland appeals against refusal of benefits are held.

Maria Eagle: This is a matter for Neil Ward, Chief Executive of the Appeals Service. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Neil Ward to Mr. Weir dated 22 July 2002
	The Secretary of State has asked me to respond to your recent parliamentary questions, which asked which locations within Scotland appeals against refusals of benefits are held.
	The Appeals Service arranges independent hearings for appeals on decisions on Social Security, Child Support, Vaccine Damage, Tax Credit, and Compensation Recovery. Within Scotland, appeals are heard at 24 locations, which are as follows:
	
		Appeal Locations
		
			  
		
		
			 Aberdeen Ayr 
			 Campbeltown Dumbarton 
			 Dumfries Dundee 
			 Dunfermline Edinburgh 
			 Elgin Galashiels 
			 Glasgow Greenock 
			 Hamilton Inverness 
			 Irvine Kilmarnock 
			 Kirkcaldy Kirkwall 
			 Lerwick Oban 
			 Stirling Stornoway 
			 Stranraer Wick

Benefits Information

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what mechanisms are in place to ensure that accessible information on benefits is sent out to those who need it in (a) large print, (b) braille and (c) audiotape.

Maria Eagle: The Department for Work and Pensions sends out information to customers on request and as part of specific campaigns. If any customer requests information relating to benefits the information can be supplied in braille and large print or on audio cassette (this includes Welsh versions of large print and audio cassette as desired). This does not include information of a technical nature which is produced for advisers, although we can make this available on request.

Maternity Grant

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many low-income families have received the maternity grant in each year since it was established; and how many families who would otherwise have been eligible have been refused the grant because they have not accepted information about child healthcare from a doctor, midwife or health visitor.

Maria Eagle: Sure Start Maternity Grants were introduced on 27 March 2000 and complement the Sure Start programme, which is helping many thousands of children from the most deprived areas to get the best start in life. Sure Start Maternity Grants are now worth up to five times as much as the Maternity Payments they replaced and provide more help to the neediest families.
	The scheme means more than just a cash payment. To ensure that vulnerable people have at least one contact with a health professional during pregnancy or following childbirth, we introduced a new condition of entitlement which requires people to provide evidence of having received advice on either child or maternal health from a health professional. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the vast majority of those people refused a grant for failing to produce a certificate from a health professional subsequently successfully reclaimed.
	The information is in the table.
	
		
			 Year Number of Sure Start Maternity Grant awards Number refused because no certificate from health professional produced(109) 
		
		
			 200001 170,000 9,000 
			 200102 201,000 8,000 
		
	
	Sources:
	Annual Reports by the Secretary of State on the Social Fund 200001 and 200102; Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System.
	Note:
	(108)Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.
	(109)Figures include an unquantifiable number of cases where the person subsequently successfully reapplies for a grant.

Bereavement Benefits

Harry Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many bereavement payments were made to (a) widows and (b) widowers in 200102; and what the total cost was;
	(2)  what his estimate is of the take-up and cost of widowed fathers who have claimed the new widowed parents allowance over the last 12 months;
	(3)  what the estimated costs were in 200102 of the new system of bereavement benefits under the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999, broken down by gains or losses to (a) widowers, (b) widows and (c) those without dependent children.

Malcolm Wicks: Information on the number of Bereavement Payments awarded in 200102 is not available. The estimated outtum of expenditure on bereavement benefits in 200102 was 1,100 million. Estimates of take-up of bereavement benefits and of the expenditure for widowed fathers are not available.
	The available information on the estimated additional expenditure following the introduction of bereavement benefits is in the table. Widows in receipt of Widows Benefits prior to 9 April 2001 were not affected by the changes, consequently they continue to receive full benefit so long as they meet the conditions of entitlement. The estimate here takes account of the expected fall in the number of women so entitled.
	
		Estimated additional expenditure following the introduction of Bereavement Benefits in 200102
		
			   
		
		
			 Bereavement Payments  
			 Widows 35 
			 Widowers 35 
			 Widowed Parents Allowance  
			 Widows 0(110) 
			 Widowers 65 
			 Bereavement Allowance  
			 Widows 5(111) 
			 Widowers 15 
		
	
	Source:
	Based on data supplied by the Government Actuaries Department.
	(110)There is no change for widows as the Widowed Parents Allowance simply replaces the old Widowed Mother's Allowance.
	(111)Unlike the old widow's pension, the allowance is only paid for a year and does not attract an additional pension.
	(112)Costs are given in millions of pounds and rounded to the nearest 5 million.
	(113)Estimated costs do not take account of income-related benefits.

Non-Resident Parents

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions in the last year for which figures are avalable the Child Support Agency contacted the Inland Revenue for assistance with tracking down non-resident parents.

Malcolm Wicks: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Webb dated 23 July 2002
	The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in replying to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply by me.
	You have asked on how many occasions in the last year for which figures are available the Child Support Agency contacted the Inland Revenue for assistance with tracking down non-resident parents.
	In the year to 31 March 2002 the Child Support Agency issued 298,696 non-resident parent tracing enquiries to the Inland Revenue's Tax Information Distribution Office. I hope this is helpful.

Child Benefit

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if it will be possible under the Social Security (Electronic Communication) (Child Benefit) Order 2002 for a father to claim and begin to receive child benefit without the mother of the children expressly giving her consent.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 12 July 2002
	Child benefit is awarded to a person who is responsible for a child. When a claim is received from a member of a couple, there is no legal requirement for the consent of the partner. However, the child benefit recipient also qualifies for Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP), which helps to protect the pension position of those who are unable to contribute towards a pension while bringing up children.
	In most cases it is the mother who needs this protection, so when an electronic claim is being completed by a man who is married or lives with a partner, an on-screen prompt will remind him of the importance of considering the HRP position. The system will prevent him completing his claim further without a specific response to this prompt, which asks him to read the child benefit information notes about HRP, available on screen, and to make sure the right person is making the claim.
	The declaration he is required to sign at the end of the claim also requires him to positively indicate that he has read and understood the notes about the Child Benefit/HRP link.

Housing Benefit

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of gross rents in (a) the private rented, (b) local authority and (c) the housing association sectors is met by housing benefit.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is in the table.
	
		
			 Tenancy type Housing Benefit payments (HB)(114) as a percentage of the total value of the rental market 
		
		
			 Private landlord(115) 20 
			 Local Authority / Council / New Town / Scottish Homes 55 
			 Housing Association / Trust 55 
		
	
	Source:
	Family Resources Survey 20002001
	(114)The percentages are calculated from the total value of Housing Benefit payments divided by the total value of gross rents due. Gross rent is the total amount of rent which would be eligible for Housing Benefit paid by a household to the landlord.
	(115)Private Landlord includes all landlords which do not fall into the other two categories.
	(116)Gross rent does not include rent paid by one member of the household to anotherit is the total rent paid by the household which is counted. For Housing Benefit, payments in respect of rent paid by any member of the household are included.
	(117)Estimates are based on sample counts that have been adjusted for non-response using multi-purpose grossing factors to account for regional, Council Tax band and a number of demographic variables.
	(118)Estimates are subject to sampling error and variability in non-response.

Housing Benefit

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out the basis for his statement in paragraph 20 of the Government's Response to the Second report of the Work and Pensions Select Committee, on pension credit, that plans to improve the administration of housing benefit are well underway.

Malcolm Wicks: We have a comprehensive long-term strategy for reforming Housing Benefit (HB) and dealing with the legacy of neglect we have inherited. We are determined to work with local authorities to drive up standards of service, tackle fraud and error, reduce barriers to work and tackle social exclusion.
	The Spending Review announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 15 July includes the biggest investment in HB administration since the scheme began in 1988. Starting with 40 million next year, we are investing an extra 200 million over three years to help local authorities meet the performance standards in delivery of HB.
	From April 2003 all local authorities currently complying with the Verification Framework will receive a 50 per cent. increase in their funding allocation for this work. In addition, any authority seeking to become compliant now or in the near future will also receive 50 per cent. more than they otherwise would have done.
	In March last year we established a Help Team to work in partnership with local authorities to support them in improving the administration of HB. We are already seeing real improvements resulting from the Team's work.
	In addition, we have set up a Help Fund to support local authorities by providing funding for locally-led initiatives to improve the administration of HB. For the financial year 200102, a total of 1,637,570 was awarded which benefited over 200 authorities.
	We also want to help more authorities deliver a high standard of HB service by sharing good practice. We have now introduced a dedicated web-site for local authorities and have also distributed on CD a Housing Benefit manager's service improvement toolkit.
	In April this year we published for the first time performance standards for the full range of HB administration. These standards provide authorities with a definition of what they should be delivering.
	We will continue to review local authorities core administration subsidy each year and we will fund the set-up and ongoing costs of implementing the changes needed to bring in the new tax credits and the pension credit.

Housing Benefit

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps she takes to deal with councils which are not meeting their statutory obligations in delivering the housing benefit system; and if she will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: We have a comprehensive long-term strategy for reforming Housing Benefit (HB) and dealing with the legacy of neglect we have inherited. We are determined to work with local authorities to drive up standards of service, tackle fraud and error, reduce barriers to work and tackle social exclusion.
	We have already made progress. Through a programme of inspection and active support, we have helped many local authorities to improve their administration. But where inspection shows that an authority's performance continues to fall below acceptable standards and gives cause for concern, we will not hesitate to direct the authority to take the necessary steps to improve.
	In April this year we published for the first time performance standards for the full range of HB administration. These standards provide authorities with a definition of what they should be delivering.
	The Spending Review announced by my Right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 15 July includes the biggest investment in HB administration since the scheme began in 1988. Starting with 40 million next year, we are investing an extra 200 million over three years to help local authorities meet the performance standards in delivery of HB.
	From April 2003 all local authorities currently complying with the Verification Framework will receive a 50 per cent. increase in their funding allocation for this work. In addition, any authority seeking to become compliant now or in the near future will also receive 50 per cent. more than they otherwise would have done.

Housing Benefit

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of (a) the effectiveness of local authorities' administration of housing benefit and (b) the effects of poor administration of housing benefit on tenants; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Housing Benefit has a key role to play in supporting our efforts to tackle poverty and social exclusion and promote work for those who are able to. Many local authorities are doing a good job of administering benefit and some are delivering to a high standard. However, we accept that too many local authorities have backlogs of work and that consequently tenants are experiencing delays in the processing of their claims. We are determined to tackle these unacceptable variations in performance and the weaknesses in the current Housing Benefit scheme. That is why we have set out a comprehensive long-term strategy for reforming Housing Benefit and dealing with the legacy of neglect we inherited.
	We have already made progress. Through a programme of inspection and active support, we have helped many local authorities to improve their administration. The result, in the better authorities, has been a fall in backlogs of cases, an improvement of turn-around times, tighter verification of claims, improved recovery of overpayments, and a strengthening of counter-fraud work.
	In April this year we published for the first time performance standards for the full range of Housing Benefit administration. These standards provide authorities with a definition of what they should be delivering.
	The Spending Review announced by my Right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 15 July includes the biggest investment in Housing Benefit administration since the scheme began in 1998. Starting with 40 million next year, we are investing an extra 200 million over three years to help local authorities meet the performance standards in delivery of Housing Benefit.
	Local authorities need to process Housing Benefit claims quickly to avoid any inconvenience to tenants. The measures we are putting in place are designed to encourage better performance and are making Housing Benefit easier to administer.

Housing Benefit

Neil Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in the Wigan MB are claiming housing benefit as a percentage of the total population there; and what the equivalent statistics are for (a) the North West Region and (b) England.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is in the table.
	Housing Benefit recipients in Wigan, the North-West Region and England as a percentage of the total population aged 16 or over in each area: February 2002.
	
		
			 Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council area Government Office Region of North West England England 
		
		
			 8.1 9.4 7.9 
		
	
	Sources:
	Housing Benefit Management Information System quarterly 100 per cent. count taken in February 2002;
	Office for National Statistics mid-year population estimates for 2000.
	Notes:
	1. The data refer to households claiming Housing Benefit which may be a single person, a couple or a family. More than one benefit household can live in one property, for example two or more adults in a flat or nouse share arrangement.
	2. Figures exclude any Housing Benefit Extended Payment cases.
	3. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated.

Incapacity Benefit

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many people were in receipt of incapacity benefit in (a) June 1997, (b) February 1999, (c) June 2001 and (d) May 2002;
	(2)  what the total cost of incapacity benefit payments was, and how many claimants were in receipt of incapacity benefit payments, in each year since 1997, broken down into payments of (a) short-term incapacity benefit at the lower rate, (b) short-term incapacity benefit at the higher rate and (c) long-term incapacity benefit.

Nick Brown: We are committed to providing disabled people with the same employment opportunities as everyone else of working age. Our New Deal for Disabled People and Jobcentre Plus are helping more disabled people to get and keep jobs.
	The available information is in the tables.
	
		Number of people in receipt of Incapacity Benefit -- Thousands
		
			  
		
		
			 31 May 1997 1,732.7 
			 28 February 1999 1,557.1 
			 31 May 2001 1,516.2 
			 28 February 2002 1,496.9 
		
	
	Notes:
	Figures are expressed in thousands, and rounded to the nearest hundred.
	Source:
	Figures are based on 5 per cent. samples of the Incapacity Benefit computer system and exclude a small number of clerically held cases.
	
		Incapacity Benefit recipients in each year since 1997 -- Thousands
		
			  All IB IB Short Term (Lower) IB Short Term (Higher) IB Long Term 
		
		
			 28 February 1997 1,749.2 117.1 105.3 1,526.8 
			 28 February 1998 1,671.2 109.4 103.0 1,458.7 
			 28 February 1999 1,557.1 94.7 87.6 1,374.9 
			 28 February 2000 1,504.3 90.9 88.5 1,324.9 
			 28 February 2001 1,515.2 93.6 91.8 1,329.8 
			 28 February 2002 1,496.9 84.1 92.6 1.320.3 
		
	
	Notes:
	Figures are expressed in thousands, and rounded to the nearest hundred.
	Source:
	Figures are based on 5 per cent. samples of the Incapacity Benefit computer system and exclude a small number of clerically held cases.
	Incapacity Benefit expenditure in each year since 1997
	
		million
		
			  
		
		
			  Incapacity Benefit Expenditure 
			  IB Short Term (Lower) IB Short Term (Higher) IB Long Term Earnings Related(120) 
			 199697 Outturn 313 296 5,792 1,260 
			 199798 Outturn 318 317 5,716 1,062 
			 199899 Outturn 283 305 5,744 920 
			 199900 Outturn 272 274 5,492 753 
			 200001 Outturn 264 311 5,331 695 
			 200102 Estimated outturn 278 323 5.595 573 
		
	
	Sources:
	Departmental Reports and Benefit Forecasting Model.
	(119)Expenditure for 200102 reflects the latest benefit-by-benefit estimate of outturn for the year.
	(120)The earnings-related additional pension component is paid in transitionally protected cases where a person was receiving Invalidity Benefit immediately before Incapacity Benefit was introduced in April 1995.

Incapacity Benefit

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in receipt of incapacity benefit have been helped into permitted work through the Access to Work Scheme since its introduction.

Maria Eagle: The information requested is not routinely collected and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Incapacity Benefit

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what changes have been introduced into the incapacity benefit medical testing regime in the last 12 months; and what future changes are proposed.

Nick Brown: In May 2001 we strengthened the procedures for repeat Personal Capability Assessments (PCAs) to ensure that people receiving Incapacity Benefit have regular checks on their medical condition. Cases going through the PCA process are now marked for review at least every 3 or 5 years, or an earlier review if appropriate.
	From June 2002, a telephone booking system has been operated by Medical Services for PCA examinations wherever possible. This should improve attendance at examinations and reduced customer waiting times at the examination centres.
	From October 2002, we are bringing forward the start of the PCA process for new claims by up to 10 weeks in order to ensure decisions on continuing incapacity are made more promptly.

Incapacity Benefit

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people leaving incapacity benefit in (a) the last six months, (b) the last year and (c) the last five years represented (i) transfers to other social security benefits, (ii) people moving from benefit into employment and (iii) people moving off benefit to unknown destinations.

Nick Brown: Information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
	
		Destinations of people leaving Incapacity Benefit -- Thousands
		
			   Period  
			 Destination 1/6/0130/11/01 1/12/0030/11/01 1/12/9630/11/01 
		
		
			 Retirement Pension(121) 19.3 41.2 173.8 
			 To another benefit within 3 months(122) 70.8 148.0 949.8 
			 To WPTC/DPTC within 3 months(123) 6.2 12.6 60.3 
			 Unknown, including employment 264.8 525.2 2,957.6 
			 Total 361.1 727.0 4,141.5 
		
	
	Source:
	5 per cent. samples of DWP Information Centre administrative data.
	Notes:
	(121)Includes leavers within 3 months of state pension age.
	(122)Figures are based on cases moving to Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance or Severe Disablement Allowance within 3 months of the termination of the claim to Incapacity Benefit.
	(123)Figures are based on cases moving to Family Credit/Working Families Tax Credit or Disability Working Allowance/Disabled Person's Tax Credit within 3 months of the termination of the claim to Incapacity Benefit.
	(124)Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred and expressed in thousands.

Incapacity Benefit

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer of 8 January 2002, Official Report, column 688W, on incapacity benefit, what data his Department collate for each of the new jobcentre plus pathfinder areas on the number of new claims for incapacity benefit that have been made since the introduction of the scheme, and on the number of (a) waivers, (b) deferrals for work-focused interviews and (c) work-focused interviews that have taken place and the number of claimants that have (i) refused to attend an interview and (ii) been subjected to benefit sanctions.

Nick Brown: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive, Leigh Lewis. I have asked him to reply to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Webb dated 23 July 2002
	As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the information which we collate for each of the new Jobcentre Plus Pathfinder areas on the number of new claims for incapacity benefit broken down by the categories you set out. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency. Information in this respect is not collated for Incapacity Benefit claimants separately. We do collate information for claimants to both incapacity and disability benefits on numbers of new claims, waivers, deferrals and work focussed meetings.

Incapacity Benefit

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many recipients of incapacity benefit are also in receipt of child benefit, broken down by local authority in Scotland.

Nick Brown: Information is not available in the format requested. Information is held on the number of Incapacity Benefit recipients who have child dependants, but this does not necessarily mean that they will also be in receipt of Child Benefit. In order to receive a Child Dependency Increase the person claiming Incapacity Benefit must be either entitled to Child Benefit for the child or treated as entitled to Child Benefit by virtue of their spouse or partner receiving it. We cannot, therefore, give accurate figures for the number of Incapacity Benefit recipients who also receive Child Benefit.

Incapacity Benefit

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many incapacity benefit claimants there were in (a) St Helens, (b) Merseyside, (c) the North West and (d) England in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998, (iii) 1999, (iv) 2000 and (v) 2001.

Nick Brown: holding answer 23 July 2002
	The information is in the table.
	
		Incapacity Benefit recipients -- Thousands
		
			  England North West Merseyside (including St Helens) St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council 
		
		
			 February 1997 1,853.8 423.3 114.0 14.3 
			 February 1998 1,836.2 413.0 111.2 14.1 
			 February 1999 1,790.8 394.6 106.7 13.4 
			 February 2000 1,779.1 384.9 102.9 12.7 
			 February 2001 1,835.0 393.4 104.3 12.9 
			 February 2002 1,850.7 389.3 102.4 12.4 
		
	
	Source:
	Figures are taken from 5 per cent. samples of the Incapacity Benefit computer system and exclude a small number of cases held clerically.
	Note:
	Figures are expressed as thousands and are rounded to the nearest hundred.

Incapacity Benefit

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many incapacity benefit recipients have had their benefit reduced since April 2001 because they were in receipt of payments from an occupational or personal pension scheme or permanent health insurance scheme;
	(2)  what percentage of, and how many, incapacity benefit recipients, who would otherwise have seen a reduction in benefit due to receipt of personal or occupational pension, were exempted because they were in receipt of disability living allowance higher rate care component since April 2001;
	(3)  how much total expenditure on incapacity benefit has been reduced as a result of the rules on offsetting of personal or occupational pensions introduced in April 2001.

Nick Brown: The available information on numbers of Incapacity Benefit recipients is in the table.
	
		Incapacity Benefit (IB) awards where the person is also receiving payments from an occupational or personal pension scheme or permanent health insurance scheme
		
			 New awards of IB made from 6 April 2001 to 28 February 2002 Number of awards (thousands) 
		
		
			 Number with IB reduced due to receipt of payment from an occupation or personal pension scheme or permanent health insurance scheme. 9.9 
			 Number exempt from the rules due to receipt of Disability Living Allowance highest rate care component 4.8 
		
	
	Source:
	Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample of the Incapacity Benefit computer system and will exclude a small number of clerically held cases.
	Notes:
	1. Figures are expressed in thousands and rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. Only new and repeat claims received from 6 April 2001 were affected by the new rules on offsetting personal and occupational pension schemes and permanent health insurance schemes.
	3. We are unable to separately identify those people subject to these rules but who are not affected because their income from a pension or health insurance scheme is below 85/week.
	We estimate that the reduction in expenditure on Incapacity Benefit due to the rules on offsetting personal and occupational pensions has been 10 million over the period April 2001 to mid-February 2002.
	Source: based on a 5 per cent. sample of the Incapacity Benefit computer system.
	Note:
	1. The estimate is rounded to the nearest 10m and excludes the impact of offsetting reductions in the income-related benefits.

Incapacity Benefit

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have received a net increase in benefit income as a result of receiving non-contributory incapacity benefit instead of severe disablement allowance.

Maria Eagle: The information is not available.
	After a year on benefit, young people who qualify for Incapacity Benefit under the youth provisions will be up to 28.10 a week better off than they would have been on Severe Disablement Allowance. The Department estimated that around 6,500 young people would gain from the new provisions in the first year.
	Up to 28 February 2002 there have been 10,200 1 awards of non-contributory Incapacity Benefit.
	1. Source: figure is taken from 5 per cent. samples of the Incapacity Benefit computer system and excludes a small number of cases held clerically.
	Note: figure is rounded to the nearest hundred.

Incapacity Benefit

Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to ensure that those on incapacity benefit who reach their 65 birthday and move on to retirement pension do not experience a benefit gap between the end of the benefit and the start of the pension.

Ian McCartney: The principle of paying Retirement Pensions in whole weeks stems from the fact that the benefit week is traditionally paid in advance. Entitlement to Retirement Pension begins with the pay-day on or following the pensioner's 60 or 65 birthday. Changes in entitlement, for example a decrease because of a prolonged stay in hospital, also takes effect from the pay-day following the change of circumstances. The same rule applies with the termination of the award.
	Incapacity Benefit is traditionally paid in arrears so in the transition between these benefits the claimant may experience a perceived gap in benefit. However, the claimant does not lose any payment days because payment of Retirement Pension will continue after the change in circumstances or the end of the claim for Retirement Pension until the next pay-day.

Incapacity Reviews

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many incapacity reviews were undertaken in each of the last five years; and what the average time was to complete these reviews in each year.

Nick Brown: The medical assessment procedure involves several stages including gathering information from the person and their GP or other health care professional and arranging and carrying out examinations. The most recent study of a sample of cases found that on average the whole process took 11.4 weeks where entitlement was confirmed and 17.5 weeks where benefit was withdrawn. The available information on the number of medical examinations carried out is in the table.
	
		Number of medical examinations
		
			 Year Number of medical examinations 
		
		
			 1999(124) 432,210 
			 2000 372,934 
			 2001 455,454 
		
	
	Source:
	Figures are taken from IMPACT 100 per cent. counts.
	Notes:
	1. Figures for the number of medical examinations performed are not available until the beginning of April 1999. Therefore, figures for the period 1 January to 31 March 1999 have been estimated.
	2. Figures include Severe Disablement Allowance.

Disability Benefits

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what plans his Department has to review the operation of the disability living allowance, in particular the methods for resolving contradictions between medical reports provided by GPs and departmentally approved doctors;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of applicants who have been refused disability living allowance on grounds of ability to work who have subsequently managed to gain employment in each of the last five years,
	(3)  how many people were (a) awarded and (b) refused (i) disability living allowance, (ii) attendance allowance and (iii) incapacity benefit on initial application in each of the last 10 years;
	(4)  how many people were awarded (a) disability living allowance, (b) attendance allowance and (c) incapacity benefit on (i) review of initial application and (ii) appeal of initial application in each of the last 10 years.

Maria Eagle: holding answer 16 July 2002
	The role of the Departmental approved doctor differs from the more familiar role of the GP, whose primary function is to make a diagnosis and arrange treatment. The Departmental doctor is a medical analyst who has received special training and is therefore able to provide a fully explained opinion of the person's functional ability, within the framework of the relevant legislation. Such opinion, together with any other evidence considered necessary, enables the Department to make an informed decision as to whether a person satisfies the criteria for entitlement to the benefit.
	The Department is aware of, and has taken account of, concerns expressed by GPs about difficulties in answering the functionally-based questions, such as how far someone can walk and whether they can prepare a main meal, currently contained in reports. Subject to satisfactory evaluation of trials we intend to introduce a new GP report, which asks for purely factual clinical information. The introduction of the new report will be accompanied by training for Decision Makers covering most appropriate sources of evidence, the interpretation of such evidence and how to resolve conflict in the evidence.
	Disability Living Allowance can be paid to severely disabled people both in and out of work. Entitlement depends on the extent to which a person needs help with personal care, needs supervision or has difficulties with walking. There have therefore been no applicants who have been refused Disability Living Allowance on grounds of ability to work.
	The available information is in the table.
	
		Numbers of claims for Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, and Incapacity Benefit awarded and disallowed each year from 199293
		
			  Disability Living(125) Allowance Attendance(125) Allowance Incapacity Benefit(126) 
			 Year Awarded Disallowed Awarded Disallowed Awarded 3 Disallowed(128) 
		
		
			 March 1992February 1993 277,150 208,730 379,455 119,300   
			 March 1993February 1994 212,735 213,440 323,495 132,785   
			 March 1994February 1995 232,795 256,410 334,405 146,925   
			 March 1995February 1996 247,890 255,280 331,405 134,570   
			 March 1996February 1997 239,670 276,125 319,900 137,160 495,600 441,530 
			 March 1997February 1998 211,250 255,710 296,170 116,810 455,400 434,725 
			 March 1998February 1999 175,600 208,200 292,555 104,260 410,000 396,840 
			 March 1999February 2000 181,040 190,390 281,450 96,815 380,000 396,280 
			 March 2000February 2001 211,340 206,145 316,675 103,115 388,700 376,655 
			 March 2001February 2002 211,190 192,320 292,140 89,130 359,900 355,765 
		
	
	Notes:
	(125)ASD Information Centre, 100 per cent. data rounded to nearest five.
	(126)Incapacity Benefit was introduced in April 1995. Figures for Incapacity Benefit may include a small number of overseas cases.
	(127)PSCS computer system, 5 per cent. data rounded to nearest hundred. Figures include awards of all types except credits only and some cases which are returned to the computer system with a new start date. They exclude a small number of clerically held cases and late notifications on to the system.
	(128)PSCS computer system, 100 per cent. data rounded to nearest five. Figures include cases where the claimant has failed the contribution conditions but may be awarded credits only. They exclude a small number of clerically held cases.
	The available information is in the table. Following the introduction of the new system of decision making and appeals in October 1999, the number of appeals-received on Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Attendance Allowance (AA) cases increased significantly. The number of appeals upheld by tribunals also increased. Initial awards of Incapacity Benefit depend principally on submission of a medical certificate and satisfaction of the National Insurance contribution conditions, and there is no formal review process comparable with that for DLA and AA.
	Numbers of awards of Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance on review and appeal each year from 199293, and numbers of appeals involving Incapacity Benefit which were found in favour of the appellant
	
		
			  Disability Living(128) Allowance Attendance(128) Allowance Incapacity Benefit(129) 
			 Year Awards on review(130) Awards on appeal Awards on review(130) Awards on appeal Appeals found in favour of appellant 
		
		
			 March 1992February 1993 * * * * * 
			 March 1993February 1994 40,700 6,200 * * * 
			 March 1994February 1995 40,000 10,200 * * * 
			 March 1995February 1996 41,300 11,800 * * * 
			 March 1996February 1997 39,200 13,200 33,400 2,700 * 
			 March 1997February 1998 37,700 13,100 24,700 2,700 * 
			 March 1998February 1999 27,000 15,400 17,100 3,200 * 
			 March 1999February 2000 24,500 15,900 14,500 2,400 * 
			 March 2000February 2001 16,600 25,900 10,500 5,200 15,555 
			 March 2001February 2002 10,400(131) 24,200(131) 6,400(131) 4,500(131) 14,520 
		
	
	Notes:
	* Not available
	(129)ASD Information Centre, five per cent. data rounded to nearest hundred.
	(130)Generic Appeals Processing System (GAPS), 100 per cent. data rounded to nearest five. Figures refer to all types of appeal and are not available prior to 2000 as a change in the method of recording the type of appeal in GAPS, as part of the introduction of the new system of decision making and appeals, resulted in certain benefits being mapped incorrectly.
	(131)Figures include awards following reconsiderations under the new system of decision making and appeals.
	7. Latest available data to 30 November 2001.

Disability Benefits

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  by how many adults have received the income support enhanced disability premium since April 2001.
	(2)  how many families have received the income support enhanced disability premium in respect of a disabled child since April 2001;
	(3)  what the overall expenditure has been on the enhanced disability premium in income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit since April 2001.

Malcolm Wicks: The available information on recipients of the Income Support enhanced disability and disabled child premia is in the table.
	
		Thousands
		
			 Quarter People receiving the enhanced disability premium People receiving the enhanced disabled child premium 
		
		
			 May 2001 119.5 31.2 
			 August 2001 123.3 32.8 
			 November 2001 126.6 34.1 
			 February 2002 128.6 34.7 
		
	
	Source:
	Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiries, May 2001 to February 2002.
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred and expressed in thousands.
	2. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	3. Figures represent a snapshot of people receiving the relevant premium at the time the sample was taken and do not therefore show the cumulative number of recipients.
	Since April 2001, expenditure on the enhanced disability and disabled child premia in Income Support is estimated to have been 100 million. Equivalent figures for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit are not currently available.
	Source:
	Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiries, May 2001 to February 2002.
	Notes:
	1. Estimate is derived from the Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries.
	2. Figure is rounded to the nearest 5 million.
	3. Figure is based on a 5 per cent. sample and subject to a degree of sampling variation.

Disability Benefits

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the purpose is of the six month period between a grant of higher rate disability living allowance and the commencement of payments; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will estimate the cost of abolishing the six month period between qualification and payment of higher rate disability living allowance in the current financial year; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: Disability Living Allowance is a contribution towards the extra costs incurred by people who have long-term severe disabilities. Disability Living Allowance is paid from the date from which it is awarded. There is no delay of six months or any other period and, hence, the circumstances cited by the hon. Member do not arise.
	However, Disability Living Allowance cannot be awarded unless a severely disabled person has satisfied the conditions of entitlement for a period of at least three months and is likely to continue to satisfy them for a further period of at least six months. In some cases, therefore, people can be notified that they have been awarded Disability Living Allowance from a prospective date and the payment will start from that date. These qualifying rules establish that the severe disability and the extra costs arising from it are of a long-term nature and ensure that Disability Living Allowance is only awarded to people with long-term severe disabilities.

Disability Benefits

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many disabled children aged (a) three and (b) four years have been awarded disability living allowance higher rate mobility components since April 2001, and how much this costs.

Maria Eagle: The latest available information, based on a five per cent sample taken on 28 February 2002, is that about 3,100 disabled children aged three and approximately 3,500 aged four are receiving higher-rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance. This represents a total annual expenditure of around 13.5 million.

Disabled Access

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assistance is available to those businesses who wish to make their premises more accessible to disabled customers.

Maria Eagle: There are legal requirements concerning accessibility for disabled customers under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and, for new buildings, in Building Regulations. However, we know that many businesses simply wish to make their premises accessible because they know that this is good for customers and good for their business.
	There is significant technical and practical information available to help businesses who are planning to improve accessibility for disabled people. In particular, the Disability Rights Commission has published a Code of Practice on Rights of Access to Goods, Facilities, Services and Premises, which provides practical guidance on how to improve access.
	Local authority Building Control Departments are able to provide advice on compliance with Building Regulations and further advice on improving accessibility may be obtained from organisations such as the National Register of Access Consultants and the Centre For Accessible Environments.
	The Government works with these organisations to ensure that businesses have effective information on how to improve access for their disabled customers.

Disabled Access

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to encourage businesses to ensure that their premises are fully accessible for disabled people; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: We have run three publicity campaigns since 1999 to raise awareness of the Disability Discrimination Act, using posters, radio and press advertising. The latest campaign, Open to Change ran from January to March 2002. It was aimed specifically at service providers and illustrated the types of changes they can make to improve the delivery of their goods and services to disabled people.
	The Government will also continue working through the Equality Direct helpline, the Disability Rights Commission, the Small Business Service and other organisations to ensure that effective information and advice is available to businesses.

Long-Term Sick and Disabled

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total spending on benefits for the long-term sick and disabled was in (a) 199091 and (b) 200001; and what change this represents in real terms.

Nick Brown: We are committed to giving all people of working age the help and support they need to find jobs where they are able to do so, and providing security for those who are unable to work. Our New Deal for Disabled People and Jobcentre Plus are already helping more disabled people to get and keep jobs.
	The information is in the table.
	
		millions
		
			  199091 200001 
		
		
			 Spending on Long Term Sick and Disabled people 7,052 19,261 
		
	
	This represents a growth in real terms of 7 per cent. per annum.
	Source:
	Departmental Reports 1995 and 2002.
	Notes:
	1. Real terms growth has been calculated using 20022003 prices.
	2. Spending on those over working age has been excluded.

Disability (Employment)

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will list the measures that have been introduced by this Government to make it easier for people with disabilities to gain employment; how many residents in (a) Glasgow, Pollok and (b) the City of Glasgow Council area have benefited from each of these proposals; how many people with disabilities in (i) Glasgow, Pollok and (ii) the City of Glasgow are seeking work; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the reasons disabled people are over-represented among the unemployed; and what steps he plans to take to address these issues.

Nick Brown: Health problems are the most common barrier to work for people with disabilities, although research indicates that a broad range of non-medical factors such as availability of suitable work, confidence, level of skills, discrimination and financial considerations are also relevant.
	We have introduced a range of measures to address these issues, making work possible and making work pay for people with disabilities. We have introduced the Disabled Person's Tax Credit and the National Minimum Wage. The New Deal for Disabled People and a range of specialist employment programmes such as Access To Work, WORKSTEP and Work Preparation are available to support disabled people who want to work.
	In addition, most disabled people are able to make effective use of mainstream employment and training programmes. Integrated Jobcentre Plus offices offer all disabled people making new or repeat claims to benefit interviews with a personal adviser to ensure they are aware of the help and opportunities available to them. Specialist Disability Employment Advisers are available throughout Jobcentre plus to provide further support to people facing complex barriers to work.
	We set up the Disability Rights Commission in April 2000. Its function is to work towards the elimination of discrimination and promote equality of opportunities for disabled people, promote good practice to employers and service providers, provide information and advice about the Disability Discrimination Act, and advise the Government on a range of policy issues within its remit.
	We are also removing obstacles to work within the benefit system. For example, we have extended the Incapacity Benefit linking rules to 52 weeks, or 2 years for people receiving Disabled Persons Tax Credit, allowing disabled people to try out work safe in the knowledge that they can return to the same rate of benefit if the job doesn't work out. From April of this year, we have introduced the new permitted work rules to allow all people receiving incapacity benefits to try a small amount of work without the fear of losing their benefit entitlement.
	The information requested is not available at constituency or local authority level.

Disability Rights Taskforce

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he intends to implement the recommendations of the Disability Rights Taskforce to extend protection from discrimination to those people with HIV from the point of diagnosis.

Maria Eagle: We are already delivering on our commitments and have made clear that we will be bringing many of them into force in 2004 when we extend the current employment rights in the Disability Discrimination Act to employees in small firms, barristers, partners in business partnerships, the police and people in a range of other jobs. We are totally committed to comprehensive and enforceable civil rights for disabled people and will make further improvements to the DDA when legislative time allows including extending the definition of disability to people with HIV from the point of diagnosis.

Disabled People

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  (a) how and (b) when his Department will meet its commitments in the Government's response to the disability rights taskforce recommendations.
	(2)  (a) how and (b) when his Department will introduce a public sector duty to provide rights for disabled people similar to the duty introduced in the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how and when he intends to create comprehensive and enforceable civil rights for disabled people.

Maria Eagle: We are already delivering on our commitments and have made clear that we will be bringing many of them into force in 2004 when we extend the current employment rights in the Disability Discrimination Act to employees in small firms, barristers, partners in business partnerships, the police and people in a range of other jobs. We are committed to comprehensive and enforceable civil rights for disabled people and will make further improvements to the DDA when Parliamentary time allows including introducing a duty on the public sector to promote equality of opportunity for disabled people.

Community Care Grants

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will define more precisely the term exceptional pressure in Direction Four criteria for community care grant applications.

Malcolm Wicks: Guidance for decision makers on my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's Social Fund Direction Four is in the Social Fund Guide, a copy of which is available in the Library. The guidance makes clear that the term exceptional pressure is designed to encompass a wide variety of special circumstances. However, the guidance does not attempt to give priority to different sets of circumstances or types of application because this would limit the decision maker's discretion and penalise or deter those applicants who have urgent need but whose circumstances do not fit into a pre-defined category.

Community Care Grants

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what plans he has to ensure that applicants for community care grants throughout the United Kingdom have equal access to these grants at all times;
	(2)  what plans the Government have to review the allocation of community care grants by the Benefits Agency when prioritising applicants.

Malcolm Wicks: The community care grant scheme is administered through 127 cash-limited District budgets. The discretionary nature of the scheme means that there will always be variation in the amounts awarded depending on location, because customers' characteristics, needs and priorities are not directly comparable across areas. Budget allocations are designed to anticipate as far as possible, the nature and extent of local demand in order to achieve consistency in decision making. The scheme is kept under close review during the year to monitor the extent to which this objective is met.
	It is for each District to set the level of priority that can be met from their community care grant allocation. All Districts are required to give priority to high priority needs throughout the period of the allocation, working within the boundaries of the Secretary of State's directions and guidance.

Community Care Grants

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to ensure that applicants for (a) community care grants and (b) budgeting loans will be provided with adequate information explaining their award or refusal.

Malcolm Wicks: Anyone who applies for a community care grant or a budgeting loan receives a written explanation about their decision, together with a telephone number for them to contact a decision maker if they require further explanation. In addition, budgeting loan decision notifications include a calculation sheet which sets out in clear stages how the final decision has been reached.

Community Care Grants

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average community care grant was for (a) high and (b) medium priority awards in each year since 1997 in (i) cash and (ii) real terms.

Malcolm Wicks: We have increased the community care grant budget four times since 1997. The latest rise, of almost five per cent from 103 million in 200102 to 108 million for the current year, was above the level of inflation.
	Information on grant expenditure by priority could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Unspent Budgets

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list for each area-based initiative for which his Department is responsible the amount originally budgeted for in (a) 200001 and (b) 200102, stating in each year what funds budgeted for were not spent and if they were carried forward.

Nick Brown: Action Teams for Jobs is an area-based initiative in employment-deprived, disadvantaged areas. The budget for 200001 was 20 millions, of which 11 millions were spent and the remainder carried forward into 200102. The budget for 200102 was 57 millions, of which 52 millions were spent. The remainder will be carried forward to support the Department's programmes helping disadvantaged groups.
	Employment Zones are pilots of an alternative way of delivering services to unemployed people aged 25 and over which are run in 15 areas where there are high concentrations of long-term unemployment. The budget for 200001 was 53 millions and for 200102 was 87 millions. There were no underspends in either year.

Unspent Budgets

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average sum of money clawed back by the compensation recovery unit under the Social Security (Recovery of Payments) Act 1997 has been in each of the last four years.

Maria Eagle: The information is in the table.
	
		
			 Financial Year Average amount recovered(132) 
		
		
			 199899 3,163.32 
			 19992000 3,527.26 
			 200001 2,918.13 
			 200102 3,132.71 
		
	
	Source:
	Compensation Recovery Unit records
	Notes:
	(132)Figures relate to the average amount recovered in cases considered by the Compensation Recovery Unit where recovery is effected. They do not include cases where no recovery is appropriate.
	(133)Amounts recovered can vary considerably depending on a number of factors including the nature of the illness or accident, the date of onset of the condition, the time taken to reach settlement, whether interim settlements are made, and the benefit in payment.

Advertising Campaigns

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent on press and advertising campaigns in 200102; and what the planned expenditure is for 200203.

Nick Brown: The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in June 2001. Since that time and up till the end of 200102 financial year a total of 16.96 million was spent on advertising media.
	For the financial year 200203 campaign activity is being planned in a number of important areas such as Pensions Education and Payment Modernisation. The role of press, radio and TV advertising in these campaigns is still to be decided.

Post Office

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the answer of 31 October 2001, Official Report, column 695W, when the migration and marketing strategy for the Post Office Card Account will be developed; in what timescale it will be implemented; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: The Department for Work and Pensions, Northern Ireland Social Security Agency, the Inland Revenue and the Post Office are currently developing a customer information campaign to inform customers about the changes to the way we pay benefits and tax credits from April 2003. The information campaign will provide information on banking options, including the card account at the Post Office.

Swipe Card Accounts

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether (a) the basic bank accounts and (b) the proposed Post Office swipe card accounts will provide interest to people whose accounts are in credit.

Malcolm Wicks: The terms and conditions of basic bank accounts are a matter for the individual banks. However, basic bank accounts do not generally pay interest. The card account at the Post Office will not offer interest. Other accounts are available for people who wish to earn interest on account balances.

Budgeting Loans

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what plans he has to reform the management of budgeting loans;
	(2)  what plans he has to (a) improve the flexibility of and (b) reduce interest rates for repayment of budgeting loans.

Malcolm Wicks: The discretionary Social Fund provides interest-free loans giving flexible help for a wide variety of needs to the poorest and most vulnerable people in our society.
	We have already substantially modernised and improved the administration of the budgeting loan scheme to make it simpler, less intrusive, more transparent and faster. We have also changed the way the loans budget is allocated to ensure greater consistency across all areas of the country.
	The scheme already provides for anyone who finds the repayments terms offered unacceptable to opt for a lower size of loan and lower repayments. In addition, anyone who has difficulty maintaining repayments can ask for the repayment period to be extended so that weekly repayments are reduced to a more manageable level.
	We will continue to keep all elements of the Social Fund under review to see whether further improvements can be made to its operation and to ensure that the Fund supports our wider welfare reforms.

Budgeting Loans

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the reasons underlying the proportion of allocated budgeting loans which are not received in full.

Malcolm Wicks: The discretionary Social Fund plays an important role in the welfare system by helping the poorest and most needy members of society meet the cost of occasional one-off essential items through community care grants, budgeting loans and crisis loans.
	It would be unfair to allow the cash-limited loan budget to be monopolised by people continually topping-up their loans to the maximum at the expense of others. Therefore under the reforms we introduced in April 1999 the scheme limits access to further budgeting loans while previous loans are still being repaid.
	We no longer allow further loans to people who have outstanding budgeting loan debt of more than half the maximum amount available to them. Once their existing debt drops to less than half they can reapply, although the amount of further loan available to them could still be affected by any outstanding debt.
	Other reasons for reduced awards are because a person's debt has reached the maximum of 1,000, because their savings exceed the limits or because they would be unable to repay a higher amount.

Jobcentres

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what evaluation he has made of the number of jobs that will be lost as a result of the closure of rural jobcentres; how many rural jobcentres will be closed; how many new Jobcentre Plus facilities will be established in towns; and what assessment he has made of the impact of the closure of local jobcentres in rural areas on rural employment seekers and local businesses.

Nick Brown: The integrated Jobcentre Plus offices, which we will be extending throughout Great Britain over the next few years, will open up more employment opportunities by offering a greatly improved, work focused service to all adults of working age who are not in work.
	In some rural locations existing Jobcentres are likely to be replaced as part of this programme by alternative forms of service delivery. Our aim will be to maintain the service we offer through the use of telephone and internet based services and through the use of partner organisations. Detailed decisions, location by location, will be taken only after discussion with local authorities and other organisations.

Jobcentres

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the turnover of staff was in jobcentres in (a) Somerset and (b) the UK in (i) 19992000, (ii) 200001 and (iii) 200102.

Nick Brown: The available information is in the table.
	
		
			  Turnover of staff in the Employment Service in Great Britain (leavers as a percentage of staff in post)a 
		
		
			 19992000 b 
			 200001 11.1 
			 200102 10 
		
	
	Source:
	Jobcentre Plus Personnel
	Notes:
	a Staff turnover figures cover all Employment Service staff, approximately 90 per cent. of whom work in jobcentres.
	b Staff turnover figures for 19992000 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Staff turnover information for Somerset is not available.

Jobcentres

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list, by region, those jobcentres which will by the end of 2003 be (a) converted to jobcentre plus and (b) closed.

Nick Brown: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive, Leigh Lewis. I have asked him to reply to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Heath dated 24 July 2002
	As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the conversion of Jobcentres to Jobcentre Plus offices. This falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
	Jobcentre Plus has brought together the working age parts of the Benefits Agency and the Employment Service. We began the process of bringing the work of Benefit Offices and Jobcentres together with the opening of 56 integrated Jobcentre Plus offices in 2001. We have also announced plans to open more integrated offices in 25 of our 90 Districts by the end of March 2003. I have arranged for a list of these Districts to be placed in the Library.
	Plans are currently being developed for conversion work to take place later in 2003 and beyond. It is not therefore possible to provide an overall number of offices which may close over the roll out period.I hope this is helpful.

Ministerial Meetings

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what dates Ministers in his Department have held meetings with Ministers and officials of the Irish Government since 1 June 2000; where each meeting took place; which Ministers were involved in each meeting; which Irish Government Departments were involved in each meeting; and which Ministers and officials from the Irish Government attended each meeting.

Malcolm Wicks: Department for Work and Pensions Ministers meet Irish counterparts regularly e.g. in the margins of EU Councils and meetings.
	My right hon. Friend, the former Secretary of State, and I met the then Minister of State at the Department for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in Liege in July 2001 and Brussels in March 2002.
	More recently, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, met the Minister for Labour Affairs at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in Kolding in July 2002.

Estates Strategy

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on his Department's future estates strategy.

Andrew Smith: A decision has been made to expand, through negotiation, the existing PFI arrangements under the PRIME contract to include the ex-Employment Service buildings. If these negotiations with the current PFI service provider are not considered to be offering value for money, the Department will seek an alternative commercial solution. Work on an alternative commercial solution is being developed in parallel with the negotiations with the PRIME contract supplier.
	Note: PRIME (Private Sector Resource Initiative for Management of the Estate) is a PFI contract let to Trillium (now Land Securities Trillium) in April 1998.

Attendance Allowance

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will implement a policy of paying attendance allowance from the date a claim is granted; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will estimate the cost of paying attendance allowance from the date a claim is granted; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  for what purpose there is a six month delay between a decision to grant a claim for attendance allowance and the commencement of payments; and if he will make a statement;

Maria Eagle: Attendance Allowance is a contribution towards the extra costs incurred by people over the age of 65 who have long-term severe disabilities. Attendance allowance is paid from the date from which it is awarded. There is no delay of six months or any other period and, hence, the circumstances cited by the hon. Member do not arise.
	However, Attendance Allowance cannot be awarded unless a severely disabled person has satisfied the conditions of entitlement for a period of at least six months. In some cases, therefore, people can be notified that they have been awarded Attendance Allowance from a prospective date, and that payment will start from that date. The six-month qualifying period establishes that the severe disability, and the extra costs arising from it, are of a long-term nature and ensures that Attendance Allowance is only awarded to people with long-term severe disabilities. We have no plans to change the qualifying period.

Social Fund

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans the Government have to amend the formula for determining the social fund budget.

Malcolm Wicks: There is no formula for determining the discretionary Social Fund budget. The size of the national social fund budget is reviewed annually, taking account of forecast loan recoveries for the year ahead. The national budgets for Community Care Grants, loans and the contingency reserve are also reviewed and determined annually.
	The discretionary Social Fund budget for 200203 is 627 million and includes increases over the previous year of 1.4 million for the loans budget and an above-inflation cash boost of 5 million for the Community Care Grant budget. Since 1997, the Community Care Grant budget has gone up by 11 million, an increase of over 11 per cent.
	During 200102 a record 2.3 million people were helped by the discretionary Social Fund.

Social Fund

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total expenditure was in (a) grants and (b) loans from the Social Fund in each year from 1990; what the projected expenditure for the next three years is; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The discretionary Social Fund budget for 200203 is 627 million and includes increases over the previous year of 1.4 million for the loans budget and an above-inflation cash boost of 5 million for the Community Care Grant budget. Since 1997, the Community Care Grant budget has gone up by 11 million, an increase of over 11 per cent.
	Expenditure figures are given in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's Annual Reports on the Social Fund, copies of which are in the Library.
	The national budgets for Community Care Grants, loans and the contingency reserve are reviewed and determined annually taking account of net expenditure and forecast loan recoveries for the year ahead. The planned net expenditure for each year up to and including 200506 is 138.2 million.

Anglo-Scottish Ministerial Meetings

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many formal and official inter-ministerial meetings his Department has held with the Scottish Executive since May 1999, broken down by (a) Scottish Executive department, (b) subject and (c) date.

Nick Brown: Ministers in the Department for work and Pensions regularly speak to the Scottish Executive on a number of occasions, to discuss a range of issues.

EU Committees (Scottish Representation)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer of 16 July 2002, Official Report, column 270W, when members of the Scottish Executive have attended meetings of the EU Advisory Committee on employment; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Each Member State has two nominated delegates to the Committee. For the UK these are from the Department for Work and Pensions and for Education and Skills. No member of the Scottish Executive has attended a meeting of the Employment Committee.
	There is close contact between the lead Departments and relevant officials in Whitehall and the Devolved Administrations before Committee meetings and copies of briefing are sent to all interested parties, including the Devolved Administrations.

Contributions

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if the Government's pension policy will be reviewed to take account of the overestimation of contributions; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: We believe that the overall framework of pension policy is the right one. The Basic State Pension will remain the foundation of income in retirement: while Second pensions are being reformed to help more of tomorrow's pensioners build up better pensions. We have introduced Stakeholder Pensions which are a flexible, low charge product enabling many of those who could not previously do so, to save for their retirement. And, we have put in place the Pension Credit to make sure that it pays to have saved even modest amounts for retirement.
	It is important that policy is informed by accurate statistics on pensions contributions. The review of statistics being led by the Office of National Statistics is intended to ensure that in developing our pensions policy we have access to the statistical information required.

Social Security Claimants

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will change the rules on payment of interest on mortgages for social security claimants, with special reference to pensioners, where the difference between the average local rate and the standard national rate is greater than two per cent.

Malcolm Wicks: We have no plans to change the current rules. Unlike most other benefit recipients, pensioners claiming Minimum Income Guarantee can get help with mortgage interest payments from the outset of their claims rather than having to serve a waiting period.
	The standard interest rate was introduced in October 1995 and is based upon the weighted average of the basic rates charged by the major building societies. It was introduced as an administrative easement in a complex area of benefit calculation, which had been highlighted in critical reports by the National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee. Any changes would re-introduce this complexity and go against our commitment to simplify benefit administration wherever possible.

Information Campaigns

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spent on information literature, advertising and campaign material in financial year 200102; if he will list the campaigns that spent over 250,000; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 22 July 2002
	The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in June 2001. Since that time and up to the end the 200102 financial year a total of 18.54 million was spent on advertising media and associated production and campaign materials costs.
	Since June 2001 and up until the end of the 200102 financial year the following major campaigns costing over 250,000 have been run:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 New Deal for Disabled People 850,000 
		
	
	A national campaign to launch NDDP, covering press advertising in national and regional titles, supported by a helpline, website and publicity material.
	
		
			   
		
		
			 New Deal 50 Plus 500,000 
		
	
	A regional campaign to encourage more of the over-50s into work and to increase their awareness of the local help available.
	
		
			   
		
		
			 New Deal 25 Plus 500,000 
		
	
	A national campaign to inform the public about changes to the programme through radio advertising, a video and printed materials, supported by research.
	
		
			   
		
		
			 Age Positive 500,000 
		
	
	PR (including direct mail and partnerships with regional newspaper, sponsoring an award, exhibitions, research and promotional printed material) to raise employers' awareness of the business benefits of employing an age-diverse workforce.
	
		
			   
		
		
			 Work Incentives 450,000 
		
	
	Advertising campaign on local radio to raise awareness of the range of financial initiatives available to those moving from benefits into employment if they meet the qualifying criteria.
	
		
			   
		
		
			 Pension Education 7,188,000 
		
	
	A publicity campaign to encourage people to save for their retirement and understand the pension options available to them.
	
		
			   
		
		
			 State Second Pension 463,000 
		
	
	Development and implementation of publicity to inform carers about how new state pension rules could help themlinked to the overall pensions education campaign.
	
		
			   
		
		
			 Pensioners' Guide 729,000 
		
	
	Production and distribution of a guide on cross-government help and services for pensioners.
	
		
			   
		
		
			 Winter Fuel Payments 718,000 
		
	
	Information for people aged 60 plus and advisers about winter fuel payments and activity reminding them to claim and telling them how to claim for winter 2001 and relevant previous winters.
	
		
			   
		
		
			 Changes to rules on inherited SERPS 459,000 
		
	
	Publicity about change to the rules on inheriting the State Earnings-Related Pensions Scheme.
	
		
			   
		
		
			 Targeting Fraud 9,000,000 
		
	
	A national advertising campaign on television, radio, press and posters to deter dishonest behaviour, reinforced by regional press advertising showing that benefit fraudsters are regularly caught and punished.
	
		
			   
		
		
			 Disability Discrimination Act Awareness 3,000,000 
		
	
	A national, regional and trade press advertising campaign to raise the public's awareness of the DDA and specifically to encourage service providers to ensure that disabled people have access to their services.
	The Department issues many hundreds of publications to ensure people have information about the availability of its services, and are aware of their own rights and responsibilities. Identifying the costs for all those issued during this period would only be possible at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Expenditure Limit

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much and what proportion of the departmental expenditure limit for 200203 will be accounted for by staff costs; what the figures were for 200102; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: Information relating to 200203 is not yet available. Information relating to 200102 is available in the Departmental Report published in May 2002 (Cm 5424).

Temporary Staff

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many employees under contract from temping agencies worked within his Department; and how much was spent on temporary staff (a) in total and (b) as a percentage of the total staffing budget in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Ian McCartney: The information is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Report

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost was of publishing his Department's annual report for each of the past five years.

Ian McCartney: The Department for Work and Pensions published its first Departmental Report in May 2002. The costs that fell directly to the Department for publishing the report were 94,940. These costs include, amongst others, the design and editing of the report and of placing it on the Department's internet and intranet. Some 2,000 copies of the report were produced distributed directly by the Department to the Work and Pensions Select Committee, key contacts within Government and other associated bodies and to senior staff.
	Other costs of printing and publication are met directly by the publisher, The Stationery Office Limited (TSO), and do not fall to government.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reason he has not replied to the letter to his predecessor dated 29 May from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Pat McGuinness.

Andrew Smith: I have not replied because the Right hon. Member wrote to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport and the issue concerned matters which are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister.

Faith Communities

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list projects involving faith communities which are supported by his Department.

Maria Eagle: The Department has a number of formally constituted projects that support the Government's Modernisation Agenda. A project can be defined as a management environment set up to deliver a business product to meet a defined business case. However none of these projects specifically involve faith communities. There could well be local initiatives aimed at improving local liaison with faith communities but there is no central register of these informal, local arrangements.

One Stop Service

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his oral statement of 1 July 2002, Official Report, column 12, on one stop service, when he will write to the hon. Member for Wycombe.

Malcolm Wicks: I wrote to the hon. Member on 22 July 2002.

NI No. AX 81 12 29D

David Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what type of (a) pension and (b) benefit entitlement was paid to national insurance number AX 81 12 29D from 1 January 1980 to 11 May 1984.

Ian McCartney: I'll write privately to the hon. Member about this matter.

Ministerial Visits

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many senior citizens groups he and his Ministers have visited since 7 June.

Ian McCartney: I met the Greater London Pensioners' Association on 4 July 2002, the National Pensioners' Convention on 16 July 2002 and the T and G Retired Members Association on 22 July 2002.

Job Location

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobs under the remit of his Department in (a) the core department, (b) non-departmental public bodies, (c) executive agencies and (d) independent statutory bodies, organisations and bodies financially sponsored by his Department and other such organisations, are located in (i) Scotland, (ii) England, excluding Greater London, (iii) Greater London, (iv) Wales, (v) Northern Ireland and (vi) overseas, broken down by (A) whole-time equivalent jobs and (B) the percentage per individual department, body or organisation.

Ian McCartney: The information is in the table
	
		Number of jobs that come under the remit of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
		
			  Scotland (Exc Greater London) 
			  POSTS (A) WTE (B) Percent (C) POSTS (A) WTE (B) per cent. (C) 
		
		
			 Core Dept. 943 889.50 .64 18,722 17,356.90 12.74 
			 Non Dept. Public Bodies 0 0  56 56.00  
			 Executive Agencies 13,808 12,853.22 9.40 88,028 79,997.05 59.91 
			 Independent Stat Bodies 139 134.00 .1 677 630.00 .46 
		
	
	
		
			  Greater London Wales 
			  POSTS (A) WTE (B) Percent (C) POSTS (A) WTE (B) Percent (C) 
		
		
			 Core Dept. 2,778 2,644.97 1.89 461 425.6 .32 
			 Non Dept. 0 0  0 0  
			 Public Bodies   
			 Executive Agencies 14,376 13,437.28 9.78 6,674 6,174.58 4.55 
			 Independent Stat Bodies 144 132.8 .11 127 117.70 .1 
		
	
	Column (A) is the number of posts
	Column (B) is the Whole Time Equivalent posts taking into account staff who work part time
	Column (C) is the per cent. of posts in (A) against the total number of posts in the Department

Sanctions

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the number and size of deductions which have been compulsorily made to benefits to help pay (a) fines, (b) council tax arrears, (c) child support arrears and (d) mortgage interest in each of the last 10 years, broken down by sex.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 04 July 2002
	The available information is in the tables.
	
		Number of deductions made to benefits to repay fines in Great Britain from 199293 to 200102. -- Thousands
		
			  Total Income Support (IS) Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA(IB)) 
			  All Female Male All Female Male All Female Male 
		
		
			 199293 *0.2 *0.2 .. *0.2 *0.2  .. .. .. 
			 199394 4.2 1.6 2.7 4.2 1.6 2.7 .. .. .. 
			 199495 7.8 2.7 5.1 7.8 2.7 5.1 .. .. .. 
			 199596 10.6 4.1 6.5 10.6 4.1 6.5 .. .. .. 
			 199697 18.1 6.9 11.2 14.2 6.6 7.6 7.9 0.5 7.4 
			 199798 21.2 8.5 12.7 13.5 8.0 5.5 7.7 *0.4 7.3 
			 199899 18.7 8.0 10.6 12.5 7.4 5.0 6.2 0.6 5.6 
			 19992000 17.6 7.7 9.9 12.5 7.3 5.1 5.2 *0.4 4.8 
			 200001 16.9 7.4 9.5 12.4 6.9 5.5 4.4 *0.4 4.0 
			 200102 17.4 8.3 9.1 13.6 7.9 5.7 3.8 *0.5 3.4 
		
	
	
		Average amount of deductions made to benefits to repay fines in Great Britain from 199293 to 200102. --  per week
		
			   Total   IS   JSA (IB)  
			  All Female Male All Female Male All Female Male 
		
		
			 199293 *4.58 *4.58 .. *4.58 *4.58  .. .. .. 
			 199394 2.20 2.21 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.19 .. .. .. 
			 199495 2.30 2.29 2.31 2.30 2.29 2.31 .. .. .. 
			 199596 2.34 2.33 2.35 2.34 2.33 2.35 .. .. .. 
			 199697 2.39 2.39 2.40 2.39 2.39 2.39 2.40 2.40 2.40 
			 199798 2.50 2.49 2.50 2.50 2.49 2.51 2.50 *2.50 2.50 
			 199899 2.54 2.54 2.54 2.54 2.54 2.54 2.55 2.55 2.55 
			 19992000 2.59 2.58 2.59 2.59 2.58 2.59 2.60 *2.60 2.60 
			 200001 2.64 2.63 2.64 2.64 2.63 2.64 2.65 *2.65 2.65 
			 200102 2.69 2.68 2.69 2.68 2.68 2.69 2.70 *2.70 2.70 
		
	
	
		Number of deductions made to benefits to repay council tax arrears in Great Britain from 199394 to 200102(142). -- Thousands
		
			   Total   IS   JSA (IB)  
			  All Female Male All Female Male All Female Male 
		
		
			 199394 7.0 3.1 4.0 7.0 3.1 4.0 .. .. .. 
			 199495 30.1 15.0 15.1 30.1 15.0 15.1 .. .. .. 
			 199596 91.6 48.1 43.5 91.6 48.1 43.5 .. .. .. 
			 199697 131.6 71.7 59.9 112.9 68.8 44.1 37.4 5.8 31.5 
			 199798 148.2 87.6 60.7 114.8 82.1 32.7 33.5 5.5 27.9 
			 199899 161.0 95.7 65.3 125.6 89.7 35.9 35.4 5.9 29.5 
			 19992000 169.4 103.7 65.7 136.1 98.1 38.0 33.4 5.6 27.7 
			 200001 192.4 121.5 70.9 160.9 115.7 45.1 31.5 5.7 25.8 
			 200102 210.7 135.6 75.1 182.2 130.7 51.5 28.6 4.9 23.6 
		
	
	
		Average amount of deductions made to benefits to repay council tax arrears in Great Britain from 199394 to 200102(142). --  per week
		
			   Total   IS   JSA (IB)  
			  All Female Male All Female Male All Female Male 
		
		
			 199394 2.20 2.20 2.19 2.20 2.20 2.19 .. .. .. 
			 199495 2.29 2.29 2.29 2.29 2.29 2.29 .. .. .. 
			 199596 2.34 2.34 2.34 2.34 2.34 2.34 .. .. .. 
			 199697 2.38 2.38 2.38 2.38 2.38 2.38 2.39 2.40 2.39 
			 199798 2.48 2.48 2.49 2.48 2.48 2.48 2.49 2.49 2.49 
			 199899 2.54 2.55 2.54 2.54 2.55 2.53 2.55 2.55 2.55 
			 19992000 2.60 2.59 2.61 2.60 2.59 2.61 2.60 2.60 2.60 
			 200001 2.64 2.64 2.64 2.63 2.64 2.63 2.65 2.65 2.64 
			 200102 2.69 2.68 2.70 2.69 2.68 2.71 2.70 2.70 2.70 
		
	
	
		Number of deductions made to benefits to repay mortgage interest in Great Britain from 199293 to 200102(143). -- Thousands
		
			   Total   IS   JSA (IB)  
			  All Female Male All Female Male All Female Male 
		
		
			 199293 44.0 20.2 23.8 44.0 20.2 23.8 .. .. .. 
			 199394 452.5 189.6 262.9 452.5 189.6 262.9 .. .. .. 
			 199495 437.4 197.9 239.5 437.4 197.9 239.5 .. .. .. 
			 199596 430.7 202.7 228.0 430.7 202.7 228.0 .. .. .. 
			 199697 398.0 194.4 203.6 353.3 186.9 166.4 89.5 15.1 74.3 
			 199798 337.4 174.9 162.5 276.7 163.9 112.9 60.6 11.1 49.6 
			 199899 308.2 161.0 147.2 260.1 151.7 108.4 48.1 9.3 38.8 
			 19992000 280.7 147.2 133.5 240.6 139.2 101.5 40.1 8.0 32.1 
			 200001 259.3 135.8 123.5 230.1 130.2 99.9 29.2 5.6 23.6 
			 200102 242.2 127.8 114.4 221.3 123.8 97.5 20.9 4.0 17.0 
		
	
	
		Average amount of deductions made to benefits to repay mortgage interest in Great Britain from 199293 to 200102. --  per week
		
			   Total   IS   JSA (IB)  
			  All Female Male All Female Male All Female Male 
		
		
			 199293 45.56 44.36 46.58 45.56 44.36 46.58 .. .. .. 
			 199394 42.00 37.45 45.27 42.00 37.45 45.27 .. .. .. 
			 199495 39.19 36.33 41.55 39.19 36.33 41.55 .. .. .. 
			 199596 41.16 39.03 43.04 41.16 39.03 43.04 .. .. .. 
			 199697 35.87 34.76 36.92 35.19 34.63 35.83 41.19 37.92 41.85 
			 199798 33.93 33.63 34.25 32.89 33.56 31.92 38.65 34.61 39.55 
			 199899 38.00 37.74 38.27 37.23 37.77 36.46 42.17 37.27 43.34 
			 19992000 31.10 30.77 31.46 30.35 30.73 29.82 35.64 31.51 36.66 
			 200001 35.33 35.06 35.63 34.75 35.08 34.32 39.95 34.71 41.19 
			 200102 32.86 32.50 33.25 32.34 32.50 32.14 38.26 32.45 39.63 
		
	
	(134)Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred and are expressed in thousands.
	(135)Figures are based on a 1 per cent. sample up to and including February 1993, and a 5 per cent. sample thereafter. Numbers are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	(136)Numbers and amounts marked * are based on very few sample cases and are therefore subject to a high degree of sampling variation. They should be considered a guide to the current situation only.
	(137)' indicates figures are nil or negligible.
	(138)..' indicates figures are not applicable.
	(139)JSA(IB) figures will include cases where there is an underlying entitlement to contribution-based JSA.
	(140)IS figures for 199293 are based on May 1992 data and represent cases and average amounts in that enquiry week. IS Figures from 199394 are based on a four quarter average of caseloads and average amounts paid at the enquiry dates in May, August, November and February of each year. JSA(IB) figures are a four quarter average, with the exception of 199697 which is based on two quarters (November and February) following the introduction of JSA(IB) to replace IS for the unemployed in October 1996.
	(141)The component IS/JSA(IB) totals for 199697 do not sum to the overall total, due to the method used to calculate the averages over two and four quarters. The overall total is however representative of the total caseload.
	(142)Totals may not sum due to rounding.
	(143)Data were only collected from 1994 onwards.
	(144)The number of deductions for mortgage interest payments rose sharply between May 1992 and May 1993 following the introduction of mandatory deductions at the end of 1992.
	(145)Council tax replaced Community Charge in 1993. Figures here relate solely to Council tax arrears from its introduction.
	(146)Deductions for Council tax arrears are a last resort where other methods of payment have failed and where it is in the interest of the family in order to prevent the prosecution of the vulnerable for debt.
	Sources:
	Income Support Annual Statistical Enquiry, May 1992.
	Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries, May 1993 to February 2002.
	Jobseeker's Allowance Quarterly Statistical Enquiries, November 1996 to February 2002.

Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme

Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many payments have been made under the vaccine damage payment scheme in each year since 1995.

Maria Eagle: The information is in the table. Column 2 refers to payments made under the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979. Column 3 refers to extra-statutory payments made to past recipients of Vaccine Damage Payments to bring the real value of their original payment up to the current payment level of 100,000.
	
		
			 Financial Year Vaccine Damage Payments Vaccine Damage Top up Payments 
		
		
			 199596 4  
			 199697 5  
			 199798 3  
			 199899 0  
			 199900 4  
			 200001 4 792 
			 200102 3 103 
			 200203 to date 1 1

Employment Zones

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the terms of reference are of the current evaluation of employment zones; when the evaluation will be completed; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: The terms of reference of the current evaluation of Employment Zones are to assess the contribution of Zones to helping long-term claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance aged 25 and over find and retain jobs.
	The current evaluation will be completed with the publication in May 2003 of a cohort study comparing characteristics and outcomes of Zone participants with those of similar long-term unemployed people.
	Our evaluation to date shows that Employment Zones are making a positive contribution in helping long-term unemployed people in deprived areas move off benefit and into work. The 15 Zones have already helped over 23,600 people into jobs. We have recently extended the current Zone contracts to March 2004 and we will also be testing the Employment Zone approach with other groups such as lone parents and people returning to the New Deals.
	A qualitative study of Zone operations between winter 2000 and summer 2001 was published on 17 July 2002 (Working Age Evaluation Series, Number 124). A copy is available in the Library. The report highlights some encouraging findings about the Zones, recognising, for example, that they have a genuinely innovative delivery system and underlining the importance of the flexibility afforded to Personal Advisers in helping people move into jobs. We will study the report's findings closely and consider what lessons can be learnt from the Employment Zone approach.

ONE pilot

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer of 13 December 2001, Official Report, column 993W, on the ONE pilot, what feedback he has had from the introduction of the form by the north Nottinghamshire private and voluntary sector pilot; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: The use of a uniform Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit claim form by the North Nottinghamshire Private and Voluntary Sector pilot has not been formally evaluated. However, informal feedback suggests that the introduction of the form has achieved savings on printing costs for the local authorities concerned, and that staff can also complete and check the form more quickly, providing a more efficient service to customers.
	Building on the experience of the ONE pilots, the Customer Management System, which we plan to introduce early next year, will result in a uniform, single claims process for customers. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit information will be gathered when a claim is made to either Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance or Incapacity Benefit, so that customers will need to provide information only once.

Parliamentary Answers

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  whether it is his policy to ensure that documents referred to in parliamentary answers are available via his Department's website;
	(2)  for how long he retains documents referred to in parliamentary answers on his Department's website.

Nick Brown: The Department publishes a wide range of documents in a printed and electronic format. Those that are of most significant interest are published on the Department's Internet site. [At present, all documents displayed on the Department's website are retained indefinitely].
	Documents that are not published on the internet site are made available to the public in a printed format and are either available from the Department or the House of Commons Library. The House of Commons Library also publishes library material on the Internet.

Strategic Training in Apparel and Textiles

Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department will extend the Strategic Training in Apparel and Textiles programme after June.

Nick Brown: The Strategic Training in Apparel and Textiles (STAT) programme, which was launched in April 2001, was developed as a specific response to a decline experienced in the textile industry. The programme was designed to improve the competitiveness of the industry by helping businesses with staff training and business planning. STAT received a fixed allocation of funding until June 2002, but due to an underspend in the early months, the programme has continued beyond this. There are no plans to extend it any further but the apparel, footwear and textiles sector now receives support through Skillfast-UK, one of five trailblazer Sector Skills Councils launched earlier this year. Skillfast-UK will ensure that people in the apparel and textiles sector continue to receive strategic training and support.
	An interim assessment suggests that the project has achieved many of its goals, with over 1,800 jobs having been secured as a result of the initiative, and around 2,750 people gaining additional skills within the textile industry.

Devolution

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the EU Audit Board of the Administrative Commission on social security for migrant workers is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: I have been asked to reply.
	This is a reserved matter and no-one from the Scottish Executive has attended or is a member.

Massey Ferguson

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he plans to take to assist those who become unemployed following the closure of the Massey Ferguson plant in Coventry to find new work.

Nick Brown: holding answer 22 July 2002
	Through the Rapid Response Service, we have already responded to the announcement of the job losses at Agco (Massey Ferguson) in Coventry, meeting key partners to discuss the assistance needed to help those facing redundancy.
	Working with its partners, Jobcentre Plus will offer a tailored, co-ordinated package of support appropriate to the needs of the workers being affected by the redundancies. This will include information and advice on all aspects of job search, skills and training analysis to help identify individuals' transferable skills and any training needs. Early access to a range of Jobcentre Plus programmes, including the New Deals, will be offered and, where appropriate, re-training will be given. Funding will also be available to pay for one-off support to address individual barriers to re-employment linked to specific job offers.

Parliamentary Questions

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will answer the written question from the hon. Member for Chichester, tabled on 22 May, on the official travel of departmental and non-departmental special advisers.

Maria Eagle: This question was not asked of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

Consultation Document

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in what format his Department has published the results of its 2001 written consultations.

Ian McCartney: Replies to written consultations are published in a variety of formats. Where a Regulatory Reform Order is required, replies are submitted to Parliament as part of the scrutiny process. In other cases, results are published on the Department's website and are available in paper format.